Ham

I didn't used to like pork. Tastes change over a lifetime. When I was pregnant with my first son, I suddenly craved barbecued pork. I soon branched out into other areas. Ham is now a popular meat in our house. But we only get it when it is on sale.

This is the time of year to buy your family a ham or two! Many stores have their least expensive ham for sale for less than $1/lb. I usually like to choose the next cut up. The 'rump-' or 'butt-' portion hams that are about $1.15-1.20 are less fatty and still very economical. I have also recently seen the really nice spiral-cut hams as cheap as $1.67/lb. You can cook two hams at once in a large roasting pan and cut up the leftovers to store in your freezer for several months' worth of meals. Ham keeps well in the freezer. Don't forget that the ham bone is great for beans and soups!

Ham is very easy to prepare. You can follow the directions on the package. Usually it goes something like this: Cover with foil in a roasting pan. Bake at 325 for about 16-20 min. per pound (if you cook 2 hams it will not take twice as long, just another 2-3 min. per pound). Check for doneness with a meat thermometer; done at about 140.

Uses for leftover ham:

chopped:

- fried rice

- quiche

- add to potato soup

- omelets (I like to brown the ham bits in the skillet then add cheese and eggs)

- lentil soup or split pea soup (these use the meaty bone leftovers)

- calzones

- pasta salad

sliced:

- ham sandwich

- grilled cheese sandwich

- main dish with potatoes au gratin

What meals does your family enjoy with leftover ham?