Greens Stuffed Ham Food

STUFFED HAM, SOUTHERN MARYLAND STYLE

Steps:

• If corning the ham: Cut slits about 3 inches deep in a few places around the bone. Push salt into the incisions and, with a light hand, rub salt all over the surface of the ham. Reserve any remaining salt to rub into the ham as it corns, adding more if needed later in the process. Place the ham in a nonreactive pan, cover tightly with plastic wrap and then aluminum foil and place it in refrigerator for a week. Unwrap and turn it every couple of days, sprinkling with more reserved salt and pouring off any juice that collects each time. Rewrap. The day before you are going to stuff the ham, rinse off the salt and soak the ham overnight in cold water in the refrigerator.
• Make the stuffing: The goal is to chop all the vegetables so the pieces are small and relatively uniform in size. Begin by chopping the cabbage. A food processor with a shredding blade is helpful. Place the cabbage in a large pan or bowl. Remove large stems from the kale and other greens, if you are using them, and chop. (Tip: Freeze cleaned, whole kale leaves overnight in plastic bags, then break up the frozen leaves while still in the bag and add to the stuffing mixture.) Chop the yellow onions and scallions, and add them to the cabbage and kale.
• Mix the vegetables well and add the spices. Mix again. (Your hands will work best for this, but wear gloves if your skin is sensitive to pepper.) Taste the stuffing and adjust, adding more cayenne or red-pepper flakes for a more intense spiciness. Keep in mind that the long boiling time will soften the heat.
• Stuff the ham: Remove the bone, or have the butcher remove it for you. The ham should be almost butterflied. Add the bone to a pot large enough to hold the ham, fill with enough water to cover it and begin to heat the water to a boil.
• While the water heats, set the ham on a sheet pan and cut slits about 3 inches long and 2 inches deep in a few places to make pockets, being careful not to slice through the meat completely. The number of slits will depend on the size of the ham. The goal is an even distribution of stuffing. Pack the slits tightly with stuffing, and add stuffing to the center of the ham where the bone was. Close the ham and secure it with kitchen string.
• Prepare a large square of cheesecloth at least 3 layers thick. Spoon a layer of stuffing over the cheesecloth and set the ham on it. Pack more stuffing on the top and sides of the ham. Gather the corners of the cheesecloth to the top and twist tightly to form a compact package. Tie the top tightly with string.
• Lower the ham into boiling water, reduce heat to a simmer and add any juice that has collected from the stuffing. Skim any foam that rises. Cook, covered, for about 15 minutes per pound, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.
• Turn off the heat and let the ham cool slightly in the water, about an hour. (Old-timers simply put the whole pot on the porch overnight if the weather was cool, or left it on the stove until completely cooled.) Drain the ham in a colander and refrigerate for at least 6 hours or overnight. Remove the cheesecloth and string, and reserve any stuffing around the ham.
• To serve, slice the ham across the grain, so each slice contains stuffing and meat. Pile additional stuffing around the slices. The ham can be reheated, but more often it is served cold.

SHEET PAN HOLIDAY HAM DINNER

Steps:

• Arrange 2 oven racks in the middle part of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees F.
• For the green beans: Add the green beans, olive oil, garlic, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper to a sheet pan. Toss to coat and spread out evenly. Bake on the upper rack until starting to get tender, about 15 minutes.
• For the stuffed mushrooms: Meanwhile, pop the stems from the mushrooms and use a measuring spoon to scoop out any remaining stem. Reserve the stems and bits for another use.
• Combine the breadcrumbs, Parmesan, cream cheese and parsley in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Divide the filling evenly among the caps.
• For the ham: Line another sheet pan with foil and spray with nonstick spray.
• Microwave the marmalade in a microwave-safe bowl until melted, about 45 seconds. Add the orange juice, cornstarch, rosemary, 1/4 teaspoon pepper and 2 tablespoons water and whisk to combine.
• Arrange the ham on the prepared sheet pan and brush the glaze on both sides of each ham steak.
• After the green beans have cooked for 15 minutes, remove them from the oven and push them over to the right side of the sheet pan. Add the mushrooms to the left side and drizzle the filling evenly with the olive oil.
• Place the ham on the upper rack and the green beans and mushrooms on the lower rack. Bake, frequently brushing the ham with the glaze, until the glaze starts to thicken up, about 25 minutes.
• For the rolls: Remove the green beans and mushrooms from the oven. Push the green beans to the middle of the sheet pan and arrange the dinner rolls on the right side. Brush the rolls with the melted butter.
• Bake until the dinner rolls are softened, the ham glaze is thickened and glossy, the green beans are tender and the mushroom filling is golden, about another 10 minutes.

STUFFED COLLARD GREENS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil while you carefully stem the collard greens, trying to keep the leaves intact. Fill a bowl with ice water. When the water comes to a boil, salt generously and add the collard leaves, in batches. Blanch for 2 minutes and transfer to the ice water. Drain, gently squeeze out excess water and set aside.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil over medium-low heat in a large nonstick skillet and add the onions and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring, until the onion is tender but not browned, 5 to 8 minutes. Add the pine nuts and garlic, stir together and add the drained rinsed rice. Stir for a minute or two, until you hear the rice begin to crackle, then remove from the heat. Toss with the herbs, salt and pepper, and 1 tablespoon olive oil. To gauge how much salt you will need, use the amount that you would use when cooking 1 1/4 cups of rice.
• Oil a wide, deep lidded sauté pan or saucepan with olive oil. To fill the leaves, place one on your work surface, vein side up and with the stem end facing you. The leaf may have a big space in the middle where you stemmed it; if it does, pull the two sides of the leaf in toward each other and overlap them slightly. Place about 1 level tablespoon of filling on the bottom center of each leaf. Fold the sides over, then roll up tightly, tucking in the sides as you go. Place in the pan, seam side down, fitting the stuffed leaves in snug layers.
• Whisk together the lemon juice, remaining oil, and tomato paste with 2 tablespoons water. Season to taste with salt. Pour over the rolls. Add enough water to barely cover the rolls and top with a layer of lemon slices if desired. They will add some bitterness to the dish because of the bitter oils in the lemon skin. Invert a plate over the rolls to keep them wrapped and in position, and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cover the pan, turn the heat to low and simmer for 1 hour, at which point the leaves will be tender and the rice cooked. Remove from the heat and carefully remove the stuffed leaves from the water to a platter or to plates with a slotted spoon or tongs. Allow to cool for at least 15 minutes. Taste the liquid left in the pot and adjust seasonings. Serve the rolls warm or at room temperature with the liquid from the pot as a sauce.

STUFFED HAM ROLLS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the stuffing, boiling water and 2 teaspoons butter. Cover and let stand for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork. Top each ham slice with a cheese slice. Place 1/4 cup stuffing off-center over cheese. Roll up and secure with a toothpick. , In a shallow bowl, combine egg and water. In another shallow bowl, add bread crumbs. Dip ham rolls in egg mixture, then roll in crumbs., In a large skillet, saute ham rolls in remaining butter for 4-5 minutes or until golden brown, turning once. Discard toothpicks.

GREENS STUFFED HAM

Steps:

• Place ham meaty side up on a cutting surface.
• On the meaty side, cut 5 or 6 pockets parallel to the bone (lengthwise) about 1 - 2 inches deep and 3/4 inch apart; set aside.
• In a medium skillet, bring water to a boil.
• Add kale and celery, cover, and reduce heat to low, cooking for 10 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• Drain kale and celery.
• Stir in butter, brown sugar, vinegar, pepper and mustard.
• Add bread cubes; toss to mix.
• Spoon stuffing into the pockets of the ham.
• Tie with kitchen string to keep in place if necessary.
• Place ham, stuffed side up, on a rack in a shallow roaster.
• DO NOT ADD WATER OR COVER THE PAN.
• Bake for 2-2 1/2 hours or until meat thermometer registers 150°F.
• IF NECESSARY, cover ham loosely with foil after 1 hour to prevent burning.
• To serve, slice ham perpendicular to the bone.

HAM-STUFFED GREEN BELL PEPPERS

Steps:

• Cut off tops of green peppers; remove seeds. Cook peppers 5 minutes in boiling salted water to cover; drain and set aside.
• Combine the next 7 ingredients; mix well.
• Fill peppers with the ham mixture. Place in an 8-inch square baking dish and bake at 375°F for 30 minutes. Place a slice of cheese on each pepper and bake 15 minutes more.