$1.57 per serving ~ Ham and Cheese Twists

Tonight marks Puttanesca's return to creative cooking!

Ham and Cheese Twists ~ $1.57 per serving, $6.29 total
1 lb. pizza dough (I used storebought today but will share my homemade recipe later) ~$1.79
1 tbsp dijon mustard
Dried minced onion
8 slices deli ham ~ $2.00
8 slices swiss cheese ~ $2.50

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Roll pizza dough out into a large circle. Spread mustard on it, sprinkle with dried minced onion. Cut dough into 8 triangular pizza-style slices.
3. Fold up 1 slice each of ham and swiss and place at the wide end of each slice. Carefully roll up (filling will extend out of sides.) Place on prepared baking sheet, with the narrow tip on the bottom.
4. Bake 20-25 minutes until golden brown.
Makes 4 servings

The Verdict
Both kids really enjoyed this and so did Jim and I. There's barely any leftovers and Jim and I are arguing over who gets to take them for lunch tomorrow! I served these with baby carrots and raw broccoli florets with ranch dressing for dipping. I'm already contemplating all the different combinations to make this again: turkey and cheddar, salami and provolone, barbeque chicken and monterey jack, breakfast sausage with scrambled eggs and muenster... Please comment with other combinations you think would work!

$0.33 per serving ~ Creamy Ham Chowder

Back at Christmas I froze a hambone with a ton of meat on it. Since a huge snowstorm was predicted, I started this Sunday night. It is definitely worth the overnight work for this one...

Creamy Ham Chowder ~ $0.33 per serving, $3.25 total cost
1 ham bone with meat remaining (free!)
water to cover
1 stick butter ($0.25)
8 tbsp. flour
4 cups low-fat milk, divided ($1.20)
2 15 oz. cans corn ($1.50)
3 carrots, diced ($0.30)
2 tbsp. dried minced onion
2 tbsp. minced garlic
salt and pepper
sweet smoked paprika

1. Crack ham bone. Place in 6 quart CrockPot. Add enough water to just cover. Cover and cook on low 8 hours or overnight.
2. Drain over large bowl. Pick through, discarding bone, fat, and skin. Shred remaining meat and set aside.
3. Allow broth to cool. Skim fat from top (VERY important!!!!!)
4. Melt butter in a large soup pot. Remove from heat and mix in flour until smooth.
5. Slowly add 2 cups milk, stirring constantly. Return pot to stove and cook on low heat until thickened.
6. Stir in corn, shredded ham, diced carrots, dried minced onion and minced garlic. Slowly stir in remaining 2 cups milk and the ham broth.
7. Simmer without boiling 30 minutes.
8. Add salt, pepper, and paprika to taste. Serve and enjoy!
Makes 10 servings

The Verdict
I will never throw away a ham bone again. This was amazing! Everyone loved it, Josh had seconds and Jim had thirds! And there is enough left for two full meals. I definitely recommend using the Hungarian sweet smoked paprika if you have it, it's sweeter and smokier than regular paprika (duh, who'd have thunk it!) You could of course add more/different vegetables... potatoes, turnips, parsnips, peppers, chopped tomato... the possibilities are endless!

2 dinners in 1 post! Hearty Corn Chowder ($1.34 per serving) and Nana's Quiche ($1.11 per serving)

I've been so swamped with holiday preparations that I forgot to post! The chowder was last night's dinner and the quiche was tonight...

Fast and Hearty Corn Chowder ~ $1.34 per serving, $5.35 total
2 tbsp. butter ($0.15)
1 medium onion, chopped ($0.35)
2 tbsp. flour
1 can corn, drained ($0.65)
2 medium potatoes, chopped ($1.00)
4 cups milk ($1.20)
8 oz. deli ham, chopped ($2.00)
white pepper
salt
nutmeg

1. Melt butter in soup pot. Saute onions until slightly colored but not brown. Add flour and make roux. Stir constantly till bubbly.
2. Add corn, potatoes, and milk. Simmer until thickened.
3. Stir in ham and spices to taste. Continue to simmer until heated through.
Makes 4-5 servings

The Verdict
Everyone enjoyed this soup. It was VERY filling. We all needed to add more salt and pepper, so you can be a bit heavy-handed with the spices, the milk soaks a lot of it up. This was SUPER fast and easy!

Nana's Quiche ~ $1.11 per serving, $6.85 total

1 Pre-made frozen pie shell ($1.80)

8 oz. deli ham, chopped ($2.00)

1 cup shredded cheese ($1.80)

3 eggs ($0.75)

1 cup heavy cream ($0.50)

2-3 Tablespoons grated cheese

1/4 teaspoon salt

pepper, to taste

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1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

2. Bake pie shell for about 10 minutes or until golden brown.

3. Place ham in the bottom of the browned pie shell.

4. Top with grated parmesan cheese, then shredded cheese.

5. Blend slightly eggs, cream, salt and pepper and pour over cheeses.

6. Bake 45 min. to 1 hour. Should be golden brown.

7. Let the quiche sit for nearly an hour before serving for best results (and easier slicing.)
Makes 6 servings

The Verdict
My stepmom makes this, Josh calls her Nana. You can replace the ham with bacon, artichokes, or mushrooms. Play with the cheeses and spices. Ham works best with cheddar, artichokes with italian blend, and bacon with swiss. This is one of the only ways I will eat eggs!!!! Serve with a green salad for dinner, or with hash browns and fruit for brunch.

$0.89 per serving ~ Ham & Cheese Over Cornbread

Another attempt at something that would either be wonderful or awful.

Ham & Cheese over Cornbread
1 box cornbread mix ($0.40)
1 egg ($0.15)
1/3 cup milk ($0.10)
2 tbsp flour
2 tbsp butter
1 tbsp ground mustard
1 tbsp paprika
1 tsp white pepper
1.5 cups milk ($0.50)
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese ($1.50)
12 oz. fully cooked ham, cubed ($2.50)

1. Prepare and bake cornbread with egg and milk according to package directions.
2. Melt butter in saucepan and whisk in flour and spices. Add milk, stirring constantly until well blended. Bring to boil and Stir 2 minutes.
3. Add cheese and stir till melted. Add ham and stir until heated through.
4. Slice cornbread. Pour ham mixture over cornbread to serve.
Makes 6 servings

The Verdict
This was pure comfort food. Next time I will use my Spanish smoked paprika in it... I think it will give it a delicious smoky flavor.

$0.85 per serving ~ Ham and Cheese Pie with Cheesy Veggies on the side

Puttanesca's is back! We had a great weekend but I don't even want to THINK about what we spent on food all weekend... ugh... so back into it with one of my most successful experiments ever! This one is a "Trisha original". My stepmom makes an amazing quiche, so this is how to make a quiche when you have no time to make a pie crust!

Ham and Cheese Pie ~ $0.60 per serving
1 8 oz. ham steak, cubed ($2.00)
1 cup shredded cheese ($1.50)
1 small onion, chopped ($0.25)
2 eggs ($0.50)
1 cup milk ($0.30)
1/2 cup baking mix ($0.20)
Dash pepper

1. Grease 9 inch pie plate. Preheat ove to 400 degrees
2. Sprinkle ham, cheese, and onion into plate.
3. Combine eggs, milk, baking mix, and pepper in bowl. Pour over ham mixture.
4. Bake 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near center comes out clean.
5. Let stand for 10 minutes before slicing.
Makes 8 servings.

The Verdict
I admit it, I served this with frozen veggies, Green Giant broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots in cheese sauce ($0.25 per serving.) I think I can play with different cheeses and different proteins for a new taste. I bet black beans and colby jack cheese, with salsa to dip in, would make a kickin' tamale pie! Or cubed smoked turkey with swiss cheese? Lots of possibilities!

Josh loved this, Jim wants the leftovers for breakfast. I think that I will make two at a time next time... the second one I will freeze for a night when I'm really pressed for time!