Are you struggling with Christmas and New Year leftovers? Normally I wouldn’t be but I cooked two hams within 2 days of each other and I’m about hammed out. I’ve made split pea and ham soup from the bone of the first ham, scalloped potatoes and ham, chef’s salad with ham, boiled eggs and cheese, deviled ham mini rolls, ham sandwiches and breakfast biscuits with sliced ham.
See what I mean about being hammed out? Tonight was the last ham. I chopped up the rest of it and put it in the freezer and we’ll use that in casseroles and on pizza. The holidays are officially over. The Christmas tree is down and put away and Rob’s officially 94. I believe from today on he’s going on 95. His brother Ron is 95 and unlikely to hit 96 and that has him a bit bummed.
I went to a funeral for the brother of a friend today and I came home a bit bummed myself. All I could think of was how pissed off I’d be if I died today and all I could say was, “I worked.” Charlie was waiting for me when I came through the door and he was all bouncy and happy and followed me into the downstairs bathroom. (Doesn’t everyone go to pee with the dog watching?)
When I was done I opened the shower door and grabbed my swimsuit that dripped dry overnight and put it on. You’d have thought he was going to get the leg bone of a dinosaur. He was shrieking and crying and turning circles. Charlie LIKES to swim with mummy.
Tonight he’s so tired that when I asked him if he wanted some leftover quiche, he didn’t move. He jumped in the pool to chase his ball about 500 times and he’s too pooped to eat people food. To be honest, I’m tired too but I can say today I had some fun. You should try it.
With the last of the ham I made what I consider the best quiche recipe and served it with a bunch of grapes. John said, “Grapes? No salad?”
You’re thinking I felt guilty for no salad, right? Nah. I said, “Shush and eat your grapes.” Quiche and grapes weren’t enough so thankfully he ate the leftover pea and ham soup too. Fridge cleanout tomorrow and then grocery shopping for new food. John doesn’t do well with leftovers at the best of times but ham for several days had him pining for a visit to the fish n’ chip shop. Soon.
- 284 grams (2½ sticks) butter cut into small ¼-inch bits
- 313 grams (2½ cups) plain/all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 6 tablespoons ice cold water
- 3 eggs
- 225 ml (1 cup) cream
- ½ cup diced ham
- ½ cup broccoli florets (blanched)
- ½ cup grated cheddar cheese
- pinch of nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon pepper (white or black)
- ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- Add dry ingredients to a bowl and whisk to combine.
- Place ⅔ of dry ingredients in the bowl of a food processor.
- Sprinkle cold cubed butter over flour.
- Pulse food processor until no dry flour remains, about 25 short pulses
- Spread mixture in bowl evenly with a spatula
- Sprinkle remaining flour mixture over the top and pulse just until the mixture is barely broken up, about 5 short pulses.
- Place mixture in the bowl you previously had the flour in.
- Sprinkle with the ice water.
- Using a rubber spatula, fold and press the dough until it comes together in a ball.
- Divide and wrap each disk in cling film and place in the refrigerator for a couple of hours. (or 30 minutes at my house)
- Preheat oven to 180C/350F
- Roll out one disk and place in the bottom of a quiche pan or pie dish and place crust in the refrigerator while you make the filling.
- Add the eggs, cream, nutmeg, pepper and salt to a bowl and whisk to combine.
- Take the pie crust out of the refrigerator and sprinkle the ham, broccoli and cheese on the bottom of the crust and pour over the mixture.
- Place in pre-heated oven for 40 minutes or until the center puffs up and is just barely wobbly.
- Serve with a side salad (or a bunch of grapes)
Our Christmas lights and decorations have been put away too ????
We had a smaller ham this year so the leftovers haven’t been too much. In previous years I’ve made so many ham based dishes, especially ham and cheese croissants and quiche and even quiche stuffed croissants (I called them quissants).
Happy new year and all the best for 2015!
Sorry to hear your year had to start with the funeral of a friend. That really puts so many things in perspective, doesn’t it?
but, nothing like a pet to cheer us up – it is amazing how they live in the moment, don’t hold grudges, are always happy to see their humans, and nothing melts my heart more than their excitement with the “wanna go for a walk?”
None of our dogs enjoyed water, though… good thing there’s no sea in Kansas!
I don’t know what we’d do with a dog who didn’t swim. He loves ocean and river swimming too. Our pool is by the canal and we have a 4′ rock wall on the house side so he goes up the path behind the rock wall, drops his ball in the water, RACES around to the other side of the pool, flies in like he’s an airplane and retrieves the ball, swims to the beach end of the pool and gets out. He shakes and then picks up the ball and does it again. and again. and again. Until he’s bored which usually takes 30 minutes.
We can’t get a photograph because he thinks if we’re there we should toss the ball.
Oh, there’s a dog-sized gap between the pool fence and the rock wall. Lucky Charlie.
Just coming back from our NY walk, I wish this was in the oven. Looks great.
I can tell that Charlie has an important role in your lives. A bouncy dog who’s happy to see when you come home from a miserable day will lift your spirits. And motivating you to get out and walk/exercise him tires you both out so you can sleep. 🙂 I’m lucky that I had no leftovers this year but then I decided to be sensible and COOK for one, since only one person was eating.
Snow storm is coming next week so I envy you being able to go out and swim right now.
I bet Charlie was doing a whole body waggle – that’s what I call it when Zac’s whole body is shaking in time with his tail wagging! Lovely look quiche, Maureen, can just hear John questioning the salad – it’s like when I serve rice ‘rice again!’ even if we haven’t had it for ages!
So sorry to hear about the passing of your friend’s brother, Maureen. There is nothing quite like seeing grief so close up to make you realise how short life really is. I am sooooooooooo glad you went for a swim with Charlie instead of working… more of that on your agenda please, my lovely friend. And as for your quiche, well it looks divine! And I love that you served it with grapes. Happy birthday to Rob! xox
Your quiche looks divine Maureen – such a good idea to go for a swim with Charlie xx
Great post with an ever greater message to ponder as a new year begins. Although it looks really good, I have never cared for quiche. Look at good side – more for you.
I love that you added broccoli to this quiche. Ham, cheese and broccoli – whats’ not to love?! YUM!
Maureen,
Sadly, we had absolutely no left-overs this year since we went home to Iowa where all I did was prepare an appetizer. Would have loved to have some of the ham served to make this dish though! Great thinking there Maureen! Hope you’re enjoying the New Year! I’m enjoying the down time before returning to the classroom next week.
Be well,
Roz
Bummed to hear you were bummed. Ahh, the circle of life. It does make you realise you should live every day, doesn’t it? As cliched as it is to say that. Every day I try to do something “fun”. Because it’s summer, at the moment I take Dozer down to the beach every single day. First thing, I hit the water with him at 7am and a bunch of other doggy friends. So no matter how hard or how late I work, I know I started my day with some fun 🙂 Charlie and Dozer will get along very well. I hope you have an excellent pool filter…. 🙂
Oh I always take Charlie out and I toss his ball in the pool. I just don’t get in there with him usually. Two days in a row I’ve worn us both out. 🙂
Yes Maureen you are right. Every so often things just remind you that time flies and we have to make the most of it. Now, on food. That quiche looks seriously good the crust looks perfect and the broccoli for me is a dreamy choice. hope your fridge is full of new things soon to match the new year. Much love xxx
LOL—I was all turkeyed out after Thanksgiving! Your quiche looks like a perfect way to deal with any leftovers! We ARE having a terric time. Taking advantage of wifi at the airport 🙂
I love the holidays but find them to be stressful and exhausting. You did fabulous with your ham leftovers.
Funerals stink and they always give perspective at least temporairly.
Happy New Year!
Velva
P.S. Looking forward to your posts this year.
I love quiches Maureen and your look delicious!
Quiche has never looked better and a swim with Charlie sounds like so much fun! 🙂
LOL I did receive one private email saying something like she’d never swim with a dog and wasn’t I afraid of the germs in the pool. I told her I’d survived so far. 🙂
Grape are like a fruit salad! You know the funny thing is that Mr NQN wouldn’t mind if I served him grapes as a side salad. He’d probably hope for it! 😛
The circle of life is all too short and it really does make us think about what is important. Great little quiche and perfect for hiding the leftovers and that crust looks so flaky.
Maureen, your quiche looks great. Bugger the salad, have another slice.
I did! AND more grapes.
This quiche looks delish – almost worth cooking up a leg ham just to get those prime leftovers! Ok, maybe not 🙂 And those grapes look perfect alongside it too. Who needs salad everyday anyway.
I agree, Helen. I thought the grapes were a nice addition. 🙂 I think the word lazy could be used in this context as well.
I’m so sorry to hear about the passing of your friend’s brother. . funerals are always so sad but also cause a lot of people to reflect on life and how they are living it . which might be a good thing . . anyway, thanks for sharing this quiche . . quiche is one of my fave brunch foods so I’m always looking for recipes!
You do tell a good story, Maureen and your quiche looks picture-perfect. At this time of year we’re all needing some inspiration with what to do with all that leftover ham so this is very timely. i’m so glad you took some time out to enjoy that swimming pool of yours and Charlie must certainly have slept well that night. I hope you do take more time for yourself – even just heading down to enjoy fish and chips on the beach! xx
Love recipes using leftover ham! Because I make ham so often. This looks so good!!
You’ve definitely been hamming it up Maureen and this was a delicious way to end the season. I love quiche and could eat it every day. I’ll take a salad with mine too please 🙂
This looks delicious–I love the pretty layers! Great idea for leftovers too. A person could do a “copy/paste” of your list of 25 ways to use leftover ham! You thought of nearly everything! Do you hear that…? All of Scotland is applauding you, as they do not like to waste anything. (I’m sure that all countries have ways to use leftovers too, but I’m married to a man of Scottish ancestry who doesn’t like to let any thing go to waste, so that’s why Scotland came to mind…but I do think I actually heard them applauding you.)
Sorry about your friend. It is always a bummer, and worse…
I forgot to rate this wonderful food.
I always admire people who make their own crusts for a quiche. I sometimes don’t even bother with a store bought crust and it turns into a frittata, technically, I guess… but the crust is the best part! I hope this was the end of all the ham?
And it’s totally normal to pee with the dog! One of our cats ALWAYS runs into the bathroom all excited when I go in there. Strange creatures.
Oh Maureen – someone emailed you about swimming in the pool with Charlie? The beauty of having a dog is that they just don’t care – they only want to be with you and have fun. Sounds like the perfect anecdote to having a bummer of a day to me. Life is waaaaaay too short:)
I haven’t made quiche in the longest time – tonight is the night.
Yeah, she wanted to warn me about dangerous germs you get swimming with a dog. I thought, “what about swimming in a lake with a dog? surely the pool is cleaner?” LOL
This quiche looks lovely, Maureen, I had to freeze most of my leftover ham but you gave me some good ideas here. And, the grapes are perfect! You are a good doggie mom 🙂
I’m just making this today, such a great idea to use the leftover ham I have in the fridge that everyone is avoiding at the moment. Thanks for sharing!
A very nice recipe to use with those leftover ham over the holidays, nice timing
Belated Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your family
I could eat this any time of day. It sounds so good!
Oh I love the grapes as a substitute for salad. Teehee! Reckon it’d taste just as great too. Wish I had access to an oven right now, I’d be whipping this beauty up stat! 🙂
Quiche and grapes? No salad? Well done Maureen 😉
This look absolutely amazing and delicious, will be making this and not even with leftovers.
Thanks for sharing