Food & Entertaining
Red Beans and Rice with Ham
You can use leftover ham in this delicious and easy recipe for Red Beans and Rice with Ham or purchase cubed ham in the grocery store (found near the bacon)
My most creative times in the kitchen are when I am trying to use up whatever is in my fridge. If it’s after a holiday when we have leftover ham, I like to make Red Beans and Rice with Ham. It’s a great way to use up the leftovers. I much prefer this over a ham sandwich.
I like to serve it with a scoop of fluffy white rice. For those that like it spicy, have some extra crushed red pepper available.
I enjoy this dish so much that I also make it with ham that I purchase already cubed. At my local grocery store, Meijer, it’s sold near the bacon. You can also use andouille sausage or some other smoked sausage.
This recipe is easy and quick to put together. To top that off, it also freezes well! I freeze individual portions with rice on the bottom covered with the beans and ham. When serving after making it, I do the opposite. I plate the beans and ham in a bowl and serve with a scoop of rice on top.
My Recipe for Red Beans and Rice with Ham
Garnish with sliced green onions for extra color and flavor
Ingredients for recipes like these never have to be exact. I often don’t even measure.
If you prefer to add more vegetables or more ham, go for it. You can also stretch it out by adding an extra can of beans. Just adjust the seasoning accordingly as you go by the taste test. You may also have to add more water.
1 Green Pepper, chopped
1 Onion, chopped
2 Stalks Celery, sliced
2 Garlic Cloves, minced
1 Can Dark Red Kidney Beans, rinsed and drained
8 oz. Cubed Ham (fully cooked)
Olive Oil
1 Bay Leaf
1/2 Teaspoon Oregano
1/2 – 1 Teaspoon Cajun Seasoning, or to taste
Crushed Red Pepper to taste
Salt & Pepper (Note: There may be salt in the Cajun Seasoning)
1 Cup Rice
Green Onions, sliced
Get ready to make this wonderful combination of flavors.
Directions
Sauté onion, celery and green pepper in olive oil until soft. Add minced garlic and cook for one minute. Add kidney beans, bay leaf and other spices plus 1 can of water. Simmer on low.
Prepare rice. Rinse 1 cup of rice in cold water. Drain. Add rice to a medium-sized pot with 2 cups water and some salt. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, stir and reduce to simmer. Cover and cook for 15 minutes. Turn stove off and let rice sit for 5 minutes with cover on.
The key to fluffy rice is letting it sit covered for 5 minutes after cooking.
While rice is cooking, add ham to bean mixture and continue to simmer to heat through. Remember, the ham is already cooked so you don’t have to cook it long.
Remove bay leaf and discard. Plate red beans and ham in individual bowls. Serve with a scoop of rice and garnish with green onions.
You will be amazed at the incredible flavor for a meal that can be prepared in under 30 minutes. Enjoy!
- 1 Green Pepper, chopped
- 1 Onion, chopped
- 2 Stalks Celery, sliced
- 2 Garlic Cloves, minced
- 1 Can Dark Red Kidney Beans, rinsed and drained
- 8 oz. Cubed Ham (fully cooked)
- Olive Oil
- 1 Bay Leaf
- ½ Teaspoon Oregano
- ½ – 1 Teaspoon Cajun Seasoning, or to taste
- Crushed Red Pepper to taste
- Salt & Pepper (Note: There may be salt in the Cajun Seasoning)
- 1 Cup Rice
- Green Onions, sliced
- Get ready to make this wonderful combination of flavors.
- Sauté onion, celery and green pepper in olive oil until soft. Add minced garlic and cook for one minute.
- Add kidney beans, bay leaf and other spices plus 1 can of water. Simmer on low.
- Prepare rice. Rinse 1 cup of rice in cold water. Drain. Add rice to a medium-sized pot with 2 cups water and some salt. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, stir and reduce to simmer. Cover and cook for 15 minutes. Turn stove off and let rice sit for 5 minutes with cover on.
- While rice is cooking, add ham to bean mixture and continue to simmer to heat through. Remember, the ham is already cooked so you don’t have to cook it long.
- Remove bay leaf and discard. Plate red beans and ham in individual bowls. Serve with a scoop of rice and garnish with green onions.
Food & Entertaining
Beautiful and Creative Number Cakes
OMG, I’m in love with these gorgeous number cakes. They are a wonderful alternative to the traditional birthday cake. Today I am sharing both beautifully decorated number cakes as well as tips on how to make them.
OMG, I’m in love with these gorgeous number cakes. They are a wonderful alternative to the traditional birthday cake. Today I am sharing both beautifully decorated number cakes as well as tips on how to make them.
Gorgeous Number Cakes
These two cakes are just a couple of Adi Klinghofe’s creations. They are a work of art and so creative! Be sure to follow her Instagram account for more inspiration.
Use Cupcakes to Form Your Number Cake
Another creative account to follow on Instagram is Sophia Mya Cupcakes. I love her inspiration for using cupcakes to form the number.
Number Cake Using a Mold
Lekue silicone cake molds are available in numbers 0-9. You can create your own number combination for a special birthday party celebration. An easy yet elegant way to decorate a cake is with a variety of berries. I love the look of leaving the leaves on the strawberries.
Other Ways to Make a Number Cake
This infographic from Today’s Parent shows how you can make any number using an 8-inch round and 8-inch square cake pan.
I found this picture floating around Pinterest, however the link attached to the photo was not a working site. I wanted to share it because I feel it helps to see how they put the actual cake together to form the number.
Use Cupcakes to Form Number Cakes
As you saw above, you can form cupcakes into the shape of your desired number. It makes it easy to serve as no cutting is required. The number 2 cake above is festive with the floral pattern on both the cake and the serving board.
In need of a large serving board? You can use a large piece of cardboard or corrugated poster board and cover with foil.
The patterns below will help you decide how many cupcakes you will need to create the desired number. Depending on the size you want, you can use either regular sized cupcakes or mini cupcakes.
Which cake was your favorite?
Party Decorations
Need decorations for a milestone birthday party? Read my post Festive Party Decorations for a Milestone Birthday for some great tips.
Food & Entertaining
6 Festive Heart-Shaped Cookies for Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day isn’t just for lovers. It’s a wonderful time of year to pass out treats to friends and family. Following are seven great heart-shaped cookies to give you some inspiration. I love the idea of putting just a few in a cellophane bag with a pretty ribbon to pass out gifts.
Valentine’s Day isn’t just for lovers. It’s a wonderful time of year to pass out treats to friends and family. Following are seven great heart-shaped cookies to give you some inspiration. I love the idea of putting just a few in a cellophane bag with a pretty ribbon to pass out as gifts.
Heart-Shaped Sugar Cookies with Sprinkles
Mallory from Chocolate with Grace says these Sour Cream Cut Out Cookies are super soft, decorated with a fluffy buttercream frosting. They look delicious!
No time to bake? If you live near Orange Grove, Texas, you can order these beautiful cookies from Blue Sugar Cookie Co.
Heart Shaped Gingham Cookies
Elizabeth from Sugar Hero came up with this clever way to create Gingham decorated Valentine cookies. She also has some fabulous ombre colored heart-shaped cookies. Head on over to her blog to see them.
Valentine Cookies with a Message
I love these cookies with a message, reminiscent of the Valentine candies we had as children.
Heart-Shaped Peanut Butter Valentine Cookies
If your loved one craves peanut butter cookies, these heart-shaped ones from The Semisweet Sisters are easy to make and no decorating required. Holly and Katie have a step-by-step tutorial on how to make these.
Festive Heart-Shaped Rice Krispie Treats
Rice Krispie treats are delicious regardless of your age! These heart-shaped treats from Click Cut Create look great in cellophane bags that you can find at Michaels.
Visit these other posts for more Valentine inspiration including more cookies, desserts and ideas for a Valentine Party. Have fun creating!
Creative Valentine Sugar Cookies
Sweet Treats for Valentine’s Day Gifts
Valentine’s Day Menu Suggestions
Elegant Valentine’s Day Party Decorations
Host a Valentine Party & Skip the Hectic Restaurant Scene
Food & Entertaining
Hearty Sausage & Lentil Soup
I made the most delicious Sausage and Lentil Soup. There is something about making soup that gives me a creative license to experiment. Since it was cold and snowing, I didn’t want to venture out to the grocery store so it was more of a day to raid my fridge and pantry.
I made the most delicious Sausage and Lentil Soup. There is something about making soup that gives me a creative license to experiment. Since it was cold and snowing, I didn’t want to venture out to the grocery store so it was more of a day to raid my fridge and pantry.
Pantry Staples for Soup
I always have chicken broth or stock on hand; either homemade in the freezer or store bought in my pantry. I’m rarely without the famous trio of onions, celery and carrots. Lentils and rice are also pantry staples.
I just so happened to have some Johnson Andouille Sausage that I picked up last week so I decided to make a spicy sausage and lentil soup. It was time to get creative and I loved the results.
One of my favorite things about broth based soups is that they freeze well. We will enjoy a bowl of soup for dinner tonight and I will freeze the rest in individual portions. It will make a great lunch on a cold winter day.
- light olive oil
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 3 stalks celery, sliced
- 1 large carrot, grated
- 2 large cloves garlic, minced
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup lentils
- ½ cup white rice, rinsed
- 8 cups chicken broth
- 1 lb. Johnsonville Andouille Smoked Sausage, sliced
- Sauté onions and celery in olive oil until soft. Add grated carrots and garlic and sauté for two minutes. Add spices and sauté for one minute.
- Add rice, lentils and broth. Bring to a boil and then reduce to simmer. Cover and cook for 20 minutes.
- Add sausage and continue to cook until lentils and rice are done, approximately 20 more minutes.
- Taste and adjust salt, pepper and crushed red pepper to taste. You may also need to add some broth or water. Remove bay leaves.
- Serve with warm crusty bread.
Other Soup Recipes Perfect for Winter
Following are some links to my other soup recipes. Enjoy!
Mom’s Healing Chicken Soup Recipe
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