"Poor Knights" with Cheese and Ham - Fattiga riddare med ost och skinka

"POOR KNIGHTS" WITH CHEESE AND HAM

Fattiga riddare med ost och skinka

Serves 2

2 eggs

1 to 2 tablespoons regular milk

4 slices sandwich bread

1.7 oz cream cheese

2 slices cheese

2 slices smoked ham

butter and a neutral-tasting oil

for frying

Lightly whisk eggs and milk in a bowl. Spread cream cheese on two of the slices of bread and put on cheese and ham. Cover with the other two bread slices and press together a little. Dip on both sides in the egg-milk mixture and transfer to a hot frying pan with oil and butter. Fry until nicely colored over low heat until the cheese is well melted.

You can also put Dijon mustard and sliced red onion in between for more taste (I prefer it that way).

Enjoy!

Bella

Ham Au Gratin with Bacon and Banana - Skinkgratäng med bacon och banan

HAM AU GRATIN WITH BACON AND BANANA

Skinkgratäng med bacon och banan

Serves 4

1.1 lb pork (shoulder or ham)

1 tablespoon soy sauce

butter

1 teaspoon salt

some black pepper

5.3 oz streaky bacon, cut in pieces

0.2 cup chili sauce

0.4 cup heavy cream

0.6 cup water

1 tablespoon flour

2 bananas, sliced

Mix the shredded meat with the soy sauce and put in a greased, oven-proof pan. Flavor with salt and pepper (remember the soy sauce is salty). Brown the bacon. Beat together chili sauce, cream, water and flour. Mix the banana with bacon and meat. Pour on the sauce and place the pan in the oven at 437F for about 25 minutes. Stir once while cooking.

Enjoy!

Bella

Creamy Summer Cabbage - Gräddsvängd sommarkål

CREAMY SUMMER CABBAGE

Gräddsvängd sommarkål

Serves 4

1 head fresh cabbage,

1.1 to 1 lb 5 oz (here, we

call it "summer cabbage")

boiling water + 1 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons heavy cream

2 tablespoon finely chopped

chives or parsley

7 oz sliced smoked ham

2.2 lbs new potatoes

Split the cabbage in 6 pieces. Place them tightly in a saucepan and pour on the boiling water. Add salt and boil for 3 to 4 minutes until the cabbage is barely tender to the touch. Drain well. Spoon the cream on the cabbage and add the chopped green. Shake around.

Serve immediately with smoked ham and boiled new potatoes. Delicious summery food!

Enjoy!

Bella

Creamy Risotto with Mushrooms, Spinach and Smoked Ham - Krämig risotto med champinjoner, spenat och rökt skinka

CREAMY RISOTTO WITH MUSHROOMS,

SPINACH AND SMOKED HAM

Krämig risotto med champinjoner, spenat

och rökt skinka

Serves 4

4 cups water

2 vegetable bouillon cubes

1 garlic clove

1 tablespoon olive oil

1.6 cups round-grained rice

0.4 cup white wine

3½ oz frozen leafy spinach

2½ oz grated Parmesan cheese

salt, black pepper

5.3 oz mushrooms (champignons)

2 tablespoons butter

1 garlic clove

1 teaspoon dried thyme

3½ oz smoked ham

Bring water and bouillon cubes to a boil and keep warm. Sauté the garlic in oil in a saucepan without coloring. Add rice and sauté for a minute while stirring. Pour in the wine and let it be soaked up by the rice. Lower the heat and dilute with bouillon, little by little. Stir occasionally. The risotto is ready when the rice is tender but still chewy in the middle. Stir in the spinach with the last of the bouillon and then the grated cheese. Flavor to taste with salt and pepper.

Fry the mushrooms in butter, garlic and thyme over high heat until nicely colored. Quickly fry the sliced ham over high heat in the same pan and serve the risotto with mushrooms and ham.

Enjoy!

Bella

Garlic Gnocchi with Ham and Feta - Vitlöksstekt gnocchi med skinka och fetaost

GARLIC GNOCCHI WITH HAM AND FETA

Vitlöksstekt gnocchi med skinka och fetaost

Serves 4

1.1 lb fresh gnocchi pasta

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 crushed garlic cloves

14 oz diced tomatoes

7 oz smoked ham

2.6 oz crumbled feta cheese

1 tablespoon dried oregano

salt, black pepper

Fry the gnocchi with oil and garlic until golden. Mix tomatoes, ham, feta cheese and oregano. Stir the pasta into the tomato mix and flavor to taste with salt and pepper.

Enjoy!

Bella

Easy-Made Pork Stew Festive Style - Lättlagad festgryta

EASY-MADE PORK STEW FESTIVE STYLE

Lättlagad festgryta

Serves 4

1 lb 5 oz fresh, boneless ham

1 leek

1.2 cup meat bouillon

1 tablespoon soy sauce

½ teaspoon salt

some black pepper

4 tablespoons tomato paste

2 teaspoons tarragon

4.4 oz smoked ham

1 bunch radishes

1/4 cucumber

0.4 cup creme fraiche

Shred the ham, clean and trim the leek. Pour the bouillon in a saucepan together with soy sauce. Add the meat and stir, cover with a lid and simmer for about 15 minutes. Add leek, salt, pepper, tomato paste and tarragon. Simmer slowly for another 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, finely shred the smoked ham. Trim and split the radishes and slice the cucumber, then cut the slices in half. 

Stir in creme fraiche, smoked ham and cucumber in the stew. Simmer for a couple of minutes. Add radishes and heat up the stew before serving with potatoes or rice and a salad.

Enjoy!

Bella

Ham-Wrapped New Potatoes - Skinklindad färskpotatis

HAM-WRAPPED NEW POTATOES

Skinklindad färskpotatis

20 potatoes

20 new potatoes

20 slices Parma ham,

or the like

some fresh thyme sprigs

2 tablespoons olive oil

Preheat oven to 392F and grill.

Scrub and clean the potatoes. Boil until barely tender in lightly salted water. Take it up and allow to cool. Put some fresh thyme on each potato. Wrap a slice of ham around each and place the potatoes in a greased, oven-proof pan. Drizzle with olive oil.

Grill the potatoes in the middle of the oven for about 20 minutes. Shake the pan a few times during cooking so that the potatoes color evenly.

Enjoy!

Bella

Ham-Baked Vegetables - Skinkgratinerade grönsaker

HAM-BAKED VEGETABLES

Skinkgratinerade grönsaker

Serves 2

7 oz cauliflower florets

7 oz broccoli florets

water

Sauce:

1 tablespoon butter or margarine

1½ tablespoons flour

0.4 cup water from boiling the vegetables

0.4 cup regular milk

0.2 cup grated cheese

2.6 oz smoked ham, diced

salt, pepper

Preheat oven to 437F.

Place florets in a saucepan and add water enough to barely cover them. Add salt and boil until tender, 5 to 10 minutes. Pour off but reserve the water. Flush them in cold water and drain.

Melt the fat for the sauce and stir in flour. Dilute with 0.4 cup of the water and milk, little by little. Boil the sauce while stirring for 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in cheese and ham. Melt the grated cheese in the sauce and flavor to taste with salt and pepper.

Place the vegetables in a greased, oven-proof dish. Pour the sauce over them and bake in the middle of the oven for about 20 minutes.

Enjoy!

Bella

Ham Stew with Bacon and Bell Peppers - Skinkgryta med bacon och paprika

HAM STEW WITH BACON AND BELL PEPPERS

Skinkgryta med bacon och paprika

Serves 6

1 lb 12 oz ham or shoulder

2 tablespoons butter

5 oz diced bacon

1 can ajvar relish, approx 12 oz

2 tablespoons concentrated

chicken fond

salt, pepper

1 red bell pepper

1 orange bell pepper

For serving:

pasta of your choice

fresh basil

Cut the meat in "sticks". Brown in turns in some butter in a frying pan and transfer to a pot. Fry the diced bacon in the pan until colored and add it to the meat. Add the relish, chicken fond, salt and pepper, bring the stew to a boil and then simmer for 25 minutes.

Trim, split and cut the bell peppers in pieces and add them to the pot. Simmer for 3 minutes. Flavor to taste.

Serve with pasta and basil and a salad.

Enjoy!

Bella

Creamy Ham Mix with Apple and Cucumber - Krämig skinkröra med äpple och gurka

CREAMY HAM MIX WITH APPLE AND CUCUMBER

Krämig skinkröra med äpple och gurka

Serves 1

Ham:

3½ oz smoked, sliced ham

½ apple

0.2 cup diced cucumber

½ tablespoon chopped chives

2 tablespoons soured cream

1 tablespoon mayonnaise

salt, pepper

For serving:

lettuce

cucumber

½ sliced apple

lemon wedges

Chop the ham and place it in a bowl. Dice the apple and add to the bowl together with chives, soured cream, mayonnaise, salt and pepper.

Serve with lettuce, cucumber, apple and lemon.

Enjoy!

Bella

Farmer's Soup with Cabbage and Beans - Bondsoppa med kål och bönor

FARMER'S SOUP WITH CABBAGE AND BEANS
Bondsoppa med kål och bönor


The air dried ham can be substituted with smoked ham.


Serves 4


1 head of Savoy cabbage, approx 1 lb
1 onion
1 sweet potato, approx 14 oz
1 3/4 oz air dried or smoked ham, thinly sliced
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 chicken bouillon cubes
1 tablespoon tomato paste
12 cups water
1.2 to 1.6 cup boiled beans, e.g. cannellini
1 teaspoon salt
some ground black pepper




Trim the cabbage, cut away the thick, woody parts and cut the cabbage in small pieces. Peel and chop the onion. Peel and cut the sweet potato in small pieces and finely cut the ham. Sauté onion and ham in oil for about 3 minutes. Add potatoes and sauté on low heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Crumble in the bouillon cubes, add tomato paste and sauté while stirring for about 1 minute. Add water, bring to a boil, cover and simmer for about 20 minutes.


Add cabbage and continue boiling for about 15 minutes. Add the beans, flavor to taste with salt and pepper and serve with bread.


This soup is excellent for freezing if you make a larger batch.


Enjoy!


Bella

Mushroom Sandwich - Svampmacka

MUSHROOM SANDWICH
Svampmacka

If you've been lucky enough to find some edible mushrooms on your walk through the woods, you can make this delicious sandwich.

Serves 4

14 oz trimmed mushrooms of your choice
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 slices boiled or smoked ham
0.6 cup grated cheese
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
2 tablespoons cream
2 tablespoons water
approx ½ teaspoon salt
some white or black pepper
some paprika
4 slices white bread
4 parsley sprigs


Cut the mushrooms in smaller pieces and fry them in the fat in a frying pan. Shred the ham and mix it with the mushrooms. Add cheese and parsley and dilute with cream and water. Stir and simmer for a few minutes. Flavor with salt and other spices.

Divide the mushroom stew on the bread (toast them first if you wish) and decorate with the parsley sprigs. Serve with a salad.

Enjoy!

Bella

Ham and Cabbage Sandwich - Smörgås med skinka och vitkål

HAM AND CABBAGE SANDWICH
Smörgås med skinka och vitkål

This sandwich is both filling and tasty. The white wine mustard gives an extra twang.

Serves 2

1 cup shredded green cabbage
0.2 cup grated carrots
2 tablespoons finely cut spring onions
or leek
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 teaspoon vinegar
2 slices toast
Dijon mustard
mayonnaise
salt, pepper
4 slices mild cheese
4 to 8 slices smoked ham

Decoration:
bell pepper (optional)


Rinse and finely shred the cabbage. Peel and grate the carrots. Rinse, trim and cut the spring onions or leek. Mix cabbage, carrots and leek with mayonnaise and vinegar in a large bowl.

Toast the bread and spread with mustard and mayonnaise. Flavor with salt and pepper. Slice the cheese. Alternate cheese and ham on the sandwiches with cheese as the top layer. Put the sandwiches under the oven grill  for 2 to 3 minutes or heat the oven to 480F. Take them out, top with the cabbage mix, decorate with optional bell pepper and serve.

Enjoy!

Bella

Hard-Boiled Eggs with Ham - Ägg med skinkfyllning

HARD-BOILED EGGS WITH HAM
Ägg med skinkfyllning

You can make hard-boiled eggs so much more interesting with different fillings and serve them on a bed of shredded lettuce. An entrée which is both good and rich.

Serves 4

4 to 6 hard-boiled eggs
2 tablespoons capers
3½ oz smoked ham
0.4 to 0.6 cup soured cream
½ head of lettuce


Peel and split the eggs. Take out the yolks and chop them together with the capers. Finely dice the ham and stir ham and chopped yolks into the soured cream. Divide the filling in the hollows in the egg halves.

Shred the lettuce and put it on a plate and put the filled egg halves on top.

You can also mash it all together and serve on toast.

Enjoy!

Bella

Ham Rolls "Aroma" - Skinkrullar "Aroma"

HAM ROLLS "AROMA"
Skinkrullar Aroma

A quick and easy little dish, good for when you have guests as it can be prepared in advance and is easy to vary with the seasons.

Serves 4

4 large slices boiled or lightly smoked ham
2 leeks
water, salt
1 3/4 oz butter or margarine
2 tablespoons chopped chives
2 talespoons chopped parsley
1 tablespoon chopped pickled gherkin
½ tablespoon tomato paste
½ teaspoon dried chervil
some black pepper
4 tablespoons grated cheese


Trim and rinse the leeks and cut them in long pieces. Put them in boiling, lightly salted water and boil for about 5 minutes. Drain. Mix the fat with chives, parsley, gherkin, tomato paste, chervil and black pepper. Spread this mixture on each ham slice and put a piece of boiled leek on each slice. Roll them up and put them in a greased, oven-proof pan. Sprinkle with grated cheese.

Bake in the oven at 480F until the cheese has melted and is nicely colored. Serve with bread, butter and beer.

Enjoy!

Bella

Leek Au Gratin - Purjolöksgratäng

LEEK AU GRATIN
Purjolöksgratäng

Leek is good for gratins. You can use the whole leek, also the rough green part that is rich and delicious in taste. The white part is more tender. Ham and tomatoes make this gratin a whole meal.

Serves 4

3 leeks, approx 1 lb
5½ oz smoked ham
2 tomatoes
butter or margarine
0.4 cup cream, 15% fat or the like
0.4 cup tomato paste
0.4 cup ripe, grated cheese


Trim and rinse the leek and cut it in rather large pieces. Boil until tender in lightly salted water, take up and drain. Dice the ham and slice the tomatoes.

Put the leek in the bottom of a greased, oven-proof pan. Divide ham and tomatoes on top and pour on the cream, mixed with tomato paste. Sprinkle with grated cheese and bake in the oven at 480F for about 15 minutes.

Serve with bread, butter and a tossed salad.

Enjoy!

Bella

Ham and Mozzarella Salad - Skinksallad med mozzarella

HAM AND MOZZARELLA SALAD
Skinksallad med mozzarella

A delicious quick fix of a salad!

Serves 4

1 lb boiled potatoes
1 tablespoon oil
1 teaspoon flaked salt
some coarsely ground black pepper
1½ oz fresh lettuce or 1 bunch fresh basil
8.8 oz cherry tomatoes
3 tomatoes
1 to 2 mozzarella cheeses, each 4½ oz
7 oz air-dried ham

Dressing:
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar


Split the potatoes and mix it with oil. Roast or fry it and flavor with salt and pepper. Rinse the lettuce or reap the leaves off the basil plant. Split or slice the tomatoes and cut the mozzarella in pieces.

Divide potatoes, lettuce, tomatoes, mozzarella and ham och plates. Mix the dressing and drizzle it over the salad. Serve with toast.

Enjoy!

Bella

Chicken with Ham and Cheese - Kyckling med skinka och ost

CHICKEN WITH HAM AND CHEESE
Kyckling med skinka och ost

The combination of chicken/ham/cheese is excellent if you want a really good dish - and who doesn't? It's easy to make and really festive. Chicken is still relatively cheap, at least here in Sweden, and you can cook it in countless ways.

Serves 4

1 whole chicken, approx 2 lbs, or 
corresponding weight in chicken parts
(a little more if you use boneless parts)
½ teaspoon salt
some dried sage
some white pepper
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
4 slices smoked ham
4 slices ripe, strong cheese, like Cheddar


Rinse the chicken and dab it dry. If you use frozen chicken or chicken parts, thaw lightly. Rub it with salt, sage and white pepper. Put it in a greased, oven-proof pan, preferably standing on the oven rack, and add dabs of the fat. Fry in the oven at 350F for about 45 minutes or until colored and properly done.

Increase the heat to 440F. Take out the chicken and put on the ham and cheese. If they slide off, secure with toothpicks. Put back in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes or until the cheese has melted and colored. Cut the chicken before serving with leafy spinach that you've tossed around a bit in a frying pan with some fat (delicious if you add some garlic), boiled or fried potatoes and a salad.

Enjoy!

Bella

Ham and Leek Oven-Bake - Skinklåda med purjo

HAM AND LEEK OVEN-BAKE
Skinklåda med purjo

In this delicious bake you can use leftover Christmas ham, if you happen to have any around Christmastime. Save some whole, nice slices for the top and noone will notice it's leftover food. Bake on medium heat, 350F, for the best result.

Serves 4

4 leeks
water
1½ teaspoons salt per 8 cups water
butter or margarine
7 oz boiled ham or leftover Christmas ham, diced
4 thin, whole slices of ham
3 eggs
1.6 cups milk
1 tablespoon flour
½ teaspoon salt
some white pepper
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
2 to 3 tablespoons grated cheese


Rinse and slice the leeks. Put it in boiling, lightly salted water and simmer for about 5 minutes. Grease an oven-proof pan. Drain the leek and then spread it out in the pan. Save the liquid and use for sauce or soup.

Distribute the diced ham over the leek and put the whole ham slices on top. Mix eggs, flour and milk and flavor with salt and white pepper. Pour this over leek and ham and make sure it covers everything completely. Sprinkle with chopped parsley and grated cheese.

Bake at 350F for about 40 minutes or until the egg mixture has set and is nicely colored.

Serve with a tomato salad or a green salad.

Enjoy!

Bella

Ham and Vegetable Rice

HAM AND VEGETABLE RICE
Skinkris med grönsaker

For this, you cook everything in the same pan. It's quick too, so you should have food on the table in less than 30 minutes. All ingredients keep well and can be stored at home in the fridge or in the freezer.

Serves 4

1 tablespoon butter or margarine
7 oz smoked, shredded ham
0.4 cup finely chopped onions
1.6 cups long-grained rice
3.3 cups vegetable bouillon
approx 9 oz frozen mix of green peas, corn and red bell pepper
or some other veggie mix you like
0.8 cup diced cheese
½ teaspoon salt

Sauce:
0.8 cup soured cream
0.2 cup chili sauce
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon Italian salad spice
or dried sage


Sautée onions and ham lightly in the fat for a minute or so, without browning. Add rice and dilute with bouillon, flavor with salt, cover and boil for about 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, make the sauce. Let the veggie mix boil with the rice mix for the last 5 minutes. Just before serving, stir in the diced cheese and serve the sauce separately. It's really good with some fresh cucumber.

Enjoy!

Bella