Ham and Sweet Potato Hash with Over-Easy Eggs and Pea Shoots

I had another lovely ham steak from Copper Penny Farm languishing in my freezer and couldn’t decide what to do with it. I had the sudden epiphany that it would be great with sweet potato the other day while planning my weekly dinner menu, and found this recipe over at Epicurious. It wasn’t exactly what I wanted, but it was close enough to get me started.

I was happy at how quickly this came together – from start to eating within 30 minutes – which makes it perfect for a weekend brunch item. Use a nice heavy bottom skillet for this to get a nice brown on the sweet potatoes while they’re cooking on their own – just make sure you have a lid that more or less fits to get the steaming action you need to cook them through.

Also, if you can’t find baby pea shoots, feel free to substitute any other delicate greenery like watercress, mâche, or arugula. And take it easy on the salt on this dish – between the salty ham and the salted butter I used I didn’t feel the need for any additional seasoning at all.

Ham and Sweet Potato Hash with Over-Easy Eggs and Baby Pea Shoots

Yields about 4 servings

2 tablespoons butter

1 large sweet potato, peeled and cut into cubes (about 2 cups)

½ yellow onion, chopped

1 lb ham steak, cubed

2 cups baby pea shoots

4 eggs, cooked over easy

Melt the butter in a heavy skillet and add the sweet potatoes. Toss to coat and then cover with a lid, cook for 5 minutes stirring occasionally. When the sweet potato is almost done add the onions and ham and cook for a further 3-4 minutes – until onion is translucent and ham is heated through. Add the baby pea shoots and wilt. Divide into four portions and serve immediately with over-easy eggs on top.

banana muffins

Over Memorial Day weekend my in-laws came to visit TA and I. I had a good idea of what I was going to make for two of the three meals we would be eating at our house, but I completely forgot about breakfast on Sunday morning.

When I woke up I realized my error and decided to make yogurt scones - except I didn't have any yogurt. Instead I used up some aging bananas in the fruit bowl and made muffins.

These were surprisingly quick and easy to make - plus incredibly delicious. They're not too sweet and have just the right amount of banana flavor. I folded in some shredded coconut to the last half of the batter for TA. He's a big fan of coconut and ate nearly all of them himself.

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cinnamon and honey applesauce

I went grocery shopping at the commissary the other day to restock the fridge after vacation and found that they had installed two huge bins of 'dinged' produce. These are the fruits and vegetables that have bumps and bruises - a little more damage than you're average cosmetic defect - with discounts to match.

There were all sorts of different items in the bins - zucchini, red delicious apples, bananas. The only item I was really interested in was the packages of granny smith apples.

Bumped and bruised granny smiths? Sounds like applesauce to me.

OK - it actually sounded like apple pie, but I convinced myself that applesauce was a much healthier alternative.

Less than two dollars for five pounds of apples later and I was on my way home to make some applesauce.

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Banana Bread French Toast

Specifically requested by TA after seeing it on the Food Network, this breakfast monstrosity is my tribute to a favorite web site: This is Why You're Fat.

As I've mentioned before, TA and I don't have television in our home. When we visit folks that do, we tend to watch a good deal of the Food Network. Granted, a good deal of my time is spent making fun of television personalities - not that I think I'm better, I just think they suck. The only two people left on the Food Network that I have even a modicum of respect for are Ina Garten and Alton Brown.

While watching a bit o' TV over Thanksgiving holiday at the Outer Banks, TA saw banana bread french toast on one of the shows.

He asked me to make it for him when we got home. I said no.

He badgered me until I caved.

I managed to eat three bites of this diabetic-coma inducing behemoth of a "breakfast."

Save your arteries and your waistlines, folks. Do not eat this.

TA's feeling after eating his entire serving? "I can't believe I just ate that."

Whole Wheat Banana Bread

Thick slices of dense, rich banana bread slathered with butter - heaven, eh?

Perhaps not for everyone, but it's not too many steps further for me. I'm a big fan of carbs - essentially anything one can put butter on is my kinda dish. When TA requested a specific recipe that called for banana bread I figured that I'd make a half hearted attempt at injecting some kind of nutrition into this notoriously calories dense treat.

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