The Holiday Kitchen: special Easter cooking

 For Easter I want to try some special things. I had never made a ham on my own before so I wanted to try that. Now being a single person I did not need a big ham but I found a 3LB boneless spiral ham at Aldi for under $15. The trick I did not want to use soda or juice in making the ham. This was harder than I thought to find a recipe. I ended finding a recipe for an herb crusted ham but I did end up adding a bit of honey to sweeten it up a bit. 

So the seasonings used were:

1 TBSP dried oregano

2 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp dried thyme

1/2 tsp of cayenne powder

a pinch of black pepper

2 tsp of onion powder or flakes

1 TBSP brown sugar

I mixed all these together and coated the ham in the mixture. Now this is for a 6lb ham, so I cut the amounts in half. I also drizzled some honey over the ham to add a bit more sweetness. I cooked this in the slow cooker for about 4 hours, basting every hour or so. I did add 1 C of broth to the slow cooker to help keep it from drying out. 

I feel like it turned out pretty well for my first attempt. Plus, I have a lot of left over ham. 

The other thing I wanted to make was not a traditional Easter treat its more of a fall thing, but I love it. Pumpkin bread was made for dessert.  This is supposed to be even better than Starbucks pumpkin bread which I love. 

The ingredients:

1 3/4 all purpose flour

1 TBSP pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon (I used cinnamon)

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 can pumpkin puree not pie filling

1 C sugar granualated

1/2 C brown sugar

2 large eggs

1/2 C oil

1 TBSP vanilla extract

The recipe:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Grease 9x5 loaf pan and line with parchment paper for easy removal. Set aside.

In medium bowl whisk the flour, pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. 

In large bowl, whisk the pumpkin and sugars. Beat in eggs, oil, and vanilla. Slowly whisk in the flour until there are no more clumps. 

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top with a spatula. Bake for 50-55 minutes until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. At the 30-minute mark lightly cover with foil to make sure the top does not get too brown. 

Allow to cool for 10 minutes. Then slice and serve warm or allow to cool. 

This bread was very good the taste was a bit lighter with just the cinnamon versus the pumpkin pie spice. So, if you like a stronger pumpkin taste I would stick with the pumpkin pie spice. Also, I cooked for 50 minutes and had to cook a bit longer it was not quite done in the middle. 

Some things you can add are things like chocolate (my favorite), nuts like pecans, pumpkin seeds, cream cheese. You can also make these into muffins instead of a load. I topped mine with butter. I mean what is not made better with butter right?

This was a super simple recipe to make, and it was really good. Next time you are looking for a treat idea or a fall treat this would be a great option. 

The Healthy Kitchen: Bone Broth

 One day I was cooking and pulled out the chicken broth I needed. I noticed the broth looked just like water and really didn't have great flavor. So, I decided to try bone broth and I am never going back. Bone broth is not only nutritious, but it is loaded with flavor. 

Bone broth is made by boiling animal bones and connective tissues, and it believed that bone broth has been used back to prehistoric times. It is by no means new, but it is having a resurgence in popularity.

Bone broth helps improve digestion by naturally improving the lining of the stomach which also helps you get the nutrients from your food. 

Bone broth helps the immune system. It is considered a superfood due to the amount of minerals that help develop and support the immune system. Next time you feel under the weather make your chicken soup with bone broth for some added immune system support. 

Bone broth is an excellent source of calcium that can help with strong bones. It also includes magnesium and phosphorus which help aid in bone health. It is also a lactose free option to get your calcium if you are not able to have lactose. 

Bone broth is a great way to fight fatigue and increase your energy levels due to its high levels of glycine. It can help increase sleep quality and fight fatigue.

Bone broth provides amino acids like Proline, which is important in the production of collagen.

Bone broth contains arginine which is important in balancing kidney function. 

Bone broth can help with weight loss. This is due to its high protein levels up to 10mg per serving. This protein helps you stay fuller longer, and helps create lean muscle, and allows you to burn more calories. 

How to make bone broth at home

Fill a large pot with 1 gallon of water.

Add 2 TBSP apple cider vinegar.

Add 2-4 lbs. of animal bones and connective tissue.

Bring to a boil.

Reduce heat to simmer. Cook for 12-24 hours.

Add salt and pepper to taste.

Cool and strain it into a large container, discarding the solids. 

The longer is simmers the more flavorful the broth will be.

Add flavor with ingredients like carrots, onions, celery, thyme, rosemary, etc.

This can also be prepared in a pressure cooker or slow cooker. 

How to use bone broth?

Use as a base for sauces, soups, and gravies.

Drink on its own.

Boil pasta in bone broth to add flavor.

Use instead of water in cooking rice or quinoa.

Add to casseroles.

Some of my favorite ways to use bone broth is as a base for soups, I also like to make my rice with it. I also use it in any recipe that calls for broth. I personally have never made it myself, but I have found chicken bone broth at most stores. Sometimes beef you have to look a bit for. Bone broth will also cost you more at the store but in my opinion it is so worth the extra costs. The taste and the extra flavor more than make up for it.