Black Eyed Peas

1 lb pkg dried black eyed peas
4 c water
2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 lrg onion
2 stalks celery, chopped (optional)
2 ham hocks

Soak beans in water over night. Drain and place in crock-pot. Add water and remaining ingredients. Cover and cook on HIGH 1-2 hours then LOW for 8-9 hours. Serve over hot rice & a side of cornbread. Growing up my family also liked to mix ketchup in it (but not me). **My crock-pot is different where I usually cook this on HIGH for 1 hour and then LOW for about 6 hours.

Pasta Carbonara

1/2 lb. prosciutto, bacon, or ham cut into small pieces
4 eggs, room temperature
1/4 cup heavy cream at room temperature
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
16 oz. dry spaghetti or fettuccine pasta
1/4 cup chopped parsley
ground black pepper to taste

Cook ham/bacon until crisp. Drain on paper towels. In medium bowl, beat together eggs and cream just until blended. Stir in cheese and set aside. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and return to pan. Toss with bacon and cheese mixture and toss gently until mixed.

Hot Ham and Swiss Sandwiches

1 small onion, grated
½ lb. Butter
1 ½ Tb Poppyseeds
1 tsp. Worcestershire
3 Tb. Mustard
12 Slices Swiss cheese
2 lbs. Thinly shaved deli ham
1 Dozen sesame hamburger buns

Cook and stir the first 5 ingredients just until melted. Chill 1 hour. Spread generously on buns. Top with ham and cheese. Wrap each sandwich in foil and bake at 250 for ½ hour. They can also be frozen in foil – then baked at 250 for 1 hour.

Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole

Sally Welton's recipe

Mix together: 3 beaten eggs
1 c. half & half
1/2 tsp. seasoning salt
1 c. grated Swiss cheese
1 c. grated cheddar cheese
1 c. diced ham

24 oz. frozen hashbrowns (shredded)
1/2 c. melted butter

Thaw hashbrowns in microwave (or overnight). Add melted butter to the hashbrowns and return to the microwave until warmed throughout. Spread the hashbrowns into a 9 x 13 pan. Then add above ingredients, stir around a bit in the pan to combine them. Bake at 375 degrees for 35 - 40 minutes. **Note - when I made them for the freezer meals, I just mixed everything together without fully thawing hashbrowns or warming them with the melted butter, and they turned out great still**

Ham and Potatoes

Put ham in crock pot on low for several hours in 1 can of Sprite.

Put the thawed potatoes in a pan, melt butter and mix with corn flakes, sprinkle on top, COVER WITH TIN FOIL, bake at 350 for an hour, take off foil and bake until the top is crispy and the potatoes are soft.

Cook the veggies and corn bread and enjoy.

Gouda and Ham Sandwiches

1 package Gouda Cheese (10-12 Slices)
10 slices deli ham
1 loaf loaded Italian Bread (found at Walmart for $1.50 per loaf)
Lettuce
Tomato - sliced
Pesto Sauce

Heat oven to 425 degrees. Slice the bread length wise. Layer ham, cheese, ham cheese on bottom half of the bread. Toast bread in oven for 5-7 minutes (until cheese melts). Remove from oven. Spread pesto sauce on top half of bread. Place tomato slices on cheese side of bread, top with lettuce. Place top half of bread on lettuce. Slice and enjoy!

Cheesy Potatoes and Ham

32. oz bag of frozen shredded hash browns - thawed
2 (10 3/4 oz) cans Cream of Chicken Soup
2 cups Sour Cream
1 1/2 cup grated Cheddar Cheese
1/4 cup melted butter
1/3 c. chopped onion
2 cups finely crushed Corn Flakes
2 Tbs melted butter

Grease 9x13 baking dish and preheat oven to 350
In large bowl combine soups, sour cream, cheese, onions, and the 1/2 cup of melted butter.
Gently fold hash browns into mixture.
Pour mixture into pan.
Combine crushed corn flakes and the 2 Tbs. of melted butter and sprinkle on top of potato mixture.
Bake for 30 minutes.

**Dinner group directions (from frozen): thaw, remove ham slices from pan and bake as directed above. For the last 15-20 minutes, return ham slices and serve hot.

Lasagna

1 box oven ready lasagna noodles (12 oz)
1 jar pasta sauce (1 lb. 10 oz.)
1 large cottage cheese (24 oz.)
1 lb. smoked honey ham
1 lb. mozzarella cheese
1 cup parmesan cheese
1 dash of Italian seasoning

(I usually make one to eat and one to freeze) Spray 2 8x8 pans or 1 13x9 with nonstick oil. Start with a layer of sauce, then noodles, next cottage cheese, then a layer of ham, following with mozzarella. Continue layers until top. End with a layer of sauce covered with mozzarella and parmesan. Sprinkle with Italian seasoning.

Place a toothpick or 2 in the center of pan. Cover with aluminum foil. This will create a tent so the cheeses don't stick to the foil. Bake at 375 for about 60 minutes. If cooking from frozen, add another 30 to 60 minutes.