Roasted Butternut Squash, Brussels Sprouts and Ham

Cubes of butternut squash tossed with shredded Brussels sprouts roasted together with leftover ham. Serve this as a colorful side dish, or on top of a grain for a main dish.

A little leftover ham goes a long way to adding flavor in a variety of recipes, so when the Ohio Pork Council hired me to share a recipe using leftover ham, the cogs in my brain were spinning with inspiration to play in the kitchen.

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Finding new ways to repurpose leftovers and keep our family meals interesting is one of my jams.

[Speaking of jam, if you make or are given a jar of Tomato Jam, there's nothing better on a simple leftover ham sandwich--or make it fancy like this Grilled Cheese, Country Ham, Leek & Tomato Jam Sandwich.]

I like using leftover ham to enhance the flavor of dishes and coax my kids to try new vegetables so much that I even had a Leftover Ham Week my first year of blogging. My most popular recipe from that week, {No Salt Added} Ham & Bean Soup, remains a family favorite. Other favorites include Ham & Banana Pizza (I am NOT kidding, it's yummy),  Deep Dish Easter Leftovers Pizza, and my mom's Sweet & Sour Ham Balls. We love to make the Ham Balls using Thanksgiving ham and then serve them as an appetizer during the Christmas/New Years party period.

Apple Butter Muffin Tops for #MuffinMonday

Sweetened with apple butter, chewy from steel cut oats, and studded with chunks of apples, these make ahead delights are a quick breakfast, afternoon, or bedtime snack. No muffin pan? No problem!

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Ever look at something familiar with fresh eyes and see it in a whole new way? That happened to me with this recipe. Each month I join the Muffin Monday bakers to bring you an original recipe using seasonal ingredients. When I saw Karen's Blueberry Muffin Top recipe, that she comprehensively baked on a cookie sheet in addition to her muffin top pan, I started thinking . . .

Why do I have to bake my muffins in a muffin pan?

What if I make a muffin batter and just scoop it out onto a cookie sheet?

I did it. The world did not end.

Since I cook and bake using the ingredients from my Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm share, I've got local apples and my "cook's portion" of Slow Cooker Apple Butter in the fridge. I decided to #usethedamnjamalready and make an apple butter flavored muffin top with chopped apples for grins and giggles. For more grins and giggles, turn up the volume and check out the outtakes from the Facebook teaser video!

Eat More Veggies! (Allison's November Blitz Challenge)

My friend Allison inspired me several years ago with a challenge:

Make one small change in two areas of your health, do it for 3 weeks, and come to a party at my house at the end.  For charity!

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There are more details (click here to see Allison's blog all about it!) but the key take aways for me were the idea (two small changes) and the timing that she chose:  Allison starts her challenge the day after Halloween (so, November 1).  Her three week blitz usually ends right before Thanksgiving (the 3rd Thursday in November).  So with a house full of candy and the holiday feasting looming, I was focused on small changes and self-improvement.

Brilliant!

My small change is usually to eat between 5 and 9 servings of vegetables and fruit each day.

and with a farm share like this, it's an easy change!

I usually have an exercise change too, but this is a food blog so I'll keep the focus on food.


I do better trying to eat something, instead of trying not to eat something else.  I figure, if I fill up on veggies and fruits, there is less room and less desire for the more fat- and sugar-laden treats in my house.  


It works for me.


Here's a sample of ways I incorporate more veggies and fruits into my day: