Are you looking For A Yummy Way To Use Up Your Left Over Ham From Easter Dinner?

One of the best parts of holiday feasts are the leftovers!  For those who love turkey, the hot and cold turkey sandwiches stuffed with various combinations of leftover Thanksgiving Dinner fixings are enjoyed just as much as the feast meal itself.  In Sicilian and Italian homes the back to back Christmas Eve Feast of “The Seven Fishes” and the Christmas Day Feast leftovers yield plenty of ingredients to whip up dozens of quick after holiday meals each year.  But I have to admit I especially Love the traditional Easter feast leftover foods, like, cheese, eggs, lamb, ham, and fresh vegetables. They can be turned into delicious quick and easy breakfast, lunch and dinner dishes that can be enjoyed throughout this school vacation week.  Over the next few days I will be post some of my favorite Easter leftover recipe creations developed over the years, that my friends and family look forward to each year!

Todays Recipe “Pasta with Peas, Ham & Cipollini Onions” is one of my daughter Amanda’s most favorite pasta dishes! For recipe details and photos click see more

Pasta with Peas, Ham & Cipollini Onions

Ingredients

1 stick salted butter

1 lb. dried mediume shells pasta

1/2 cup Cipollini Onions

11/2 cup cooked Ham; diced

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1 cup Fontina Cheese; cut into 1/2 inch pieces

11/2 cups heavy cream

1/2 cup grated Romano Cheeses

1/4 teaspoon Nutmeg

1 cup frozen pea

Step-by-Step

1  bring large pan water to rolling boil; add 1 teaspoon Kosher salt; return to boil; add dry pasta; cook 7-11 minutes until pasta is cooked Al Dente

2   in two separate frying pans; melt 4 tablespoons salted butter; add onions to one pan

3  add salt and 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper; sauté onions two minutes over high heat; add ham;  sauté three minutes; reserve

 

4  add  heavy cream, Fontina and Romano cheese to other pan of melted butter; stir continuously until cheese is fully melted; add ¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper and ¼ teaspoon nutmeg; mix well; add reserved onion ham mixture to pan; mix well; add frozen peas; mix well; lower heat to simmer cook 3 to 4 minutes

 

5  strain pasta in colander; toss with pea, ham and onion, cheese sauce; serve immediately