Leftover Ham & Potato Croquettes Microwave Miracle

Thanksgiving Leftover Recipe #1

Thanksgiving leftovers? Yeah, me too. But honestly not as much as I had hoped, but I guess that's what happen as the kiddos get bigger.

We get a Honey Baked Ham for Thanksgiving from my dad every year, (Thanks Dad!) so my leftovers recipes will be including a lot of ham. First up are your leftover ham and mashed potatoes.

Get out your blender! We're blending ham.

Okay...come back. I tried finely chopping, but it was taking toooo long and since this is Fast Family Feasts, I wanted to speed it up. So go get your blender or food processor. 

This came out good with some trial and error. The first batch I didn't cover, and they came out too dry. So I would suggest covering for the first part of the cooking process.

Leftover Ham & Potato Croquettes Microwave Miracle

On Allrecipes.com

Ready in: 26 min; 16 min Active

Ingredients

1 cup Cooked Ham 1/2 Yellow Onion 2 Eggs 1 tbl Dijon Mustard 1/2 tsp Dill 1/2 tsp Salt 1/2 tsp Pepper 1 1/2 cups Mashed Potatoes - cold 1/4 cup Corn Flakes - crushed        Substitute: Panko Bread Crumbs
Side: Leftover Green Beans Any other Thanksgiving Leftovers
Supplies: 3 qt Dish & Lid Blender Cutting Board Silicone Spatula (to scrape blender) Mixing Spoon Plastic Wrap or Plate

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Instructions

Prep - 15 Min

Step 1

Coarsely chunk up Onion. Place in blender.

Step 2
Coarsely chop Ham. Add to blender.

Step 3
Add Eggs, Dijon Mustard, Dill, Salt and Pepper to blender.

Step 4
Blend on Low until mixed.

You may need to stop the blender and scrape down the sides to help it out. 

Some chucks are okay. :)

Step 5
Place Mashed Potatoes, Corn Flakes, and Ham in Dish. Combine thoroughly.

Step 6
Spray Lid with Olive Oil

Make 5 croquettes using a 1/4 c measuring cup. Place in Lid and flatten slightly to make patties.

Cook - 10 Min

Note: Recipe tested in a 900 Watt Microwave.

Step 7
Cover dish with Plastic Wrap and Microwave on High for 7 Minutes.

Step 8
Warning: HOT steam 
Carefully remove plastic wrap.

Flip.

Step 9
Microwave on High for 2 Minutes. Add additional minute if still sticky.

Serve in Lid. Garnish with more Dijon Mustard
- or-
Remove croquettes and repeat with second batch.

Enjoy!

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Fast Family Feast Test:  Passed! 

Ready in: 26 minutes!

My Score: 8

Husband Score: 9

Kids' Score: 7

Chicken Tortilla Crunch Microwave Miracle

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving & Black Friday!

My family and I had a very nice, quiet Thanksgiving. It was just me, my husband and my kids. We really wish we could be with our family for every holiday, but it was nice just having a nice simple dinner. What I made: Sausage stuffing in Chicken, Mashed Potatoes Microwave Miracle, Steamed Asparagus, Salad, and Cranberry Sauce.  I used the microwave for the potatoes and asparagus, bagged salad, canned cranberry sauce (I've tried making my own, but I LOVE the jellied kind, I'll grow up one day), so the only hard part was making the stuffing, which I could of done a lot of it in the micro, which I probably will do next time. I've really gotten used to only washing one or two things, instead of the various pots, pans, and bowls I used to make the stuffing. 

Oh, and the other nice thing about having a just your family at Thanksgiving...its A LOT easier to slip away and do some Black Friday shopping. I was a Black Friday virgin, not sure if I will go next year, but it wasn't horrible. I went to Wal-Mart at 8pm to wait for one of the 25 trampolines they had for $140 off, it took a while to find them, since the handy map that Wal-Mart hands out was NOT helpful. But once I did find them, to my delight, the trampoline people were in the garden center in front of the lawn chairs. Score! So a nice comfy wait for the trampoline, polite conversation, and I was 11th in line and easily got my trampoline. Now once I left the comforts of the garden center I was met with grabs, pushes, shoves, some "excuse me"s, and the desire to pick up the vacuum I wanted quickly disappeared. I checked out, and now I Santa will be bringing the kids a trampoline for Christmas. :)

Simple Yummy Crunchy

This is one of my favorite recipes! I was a little worried about the mix of ingredients, but really it was surprisingly fantastic! It has a tortilla-soup-like flavor with a bit more hardiness and A LOT more crunch. The kids thought it was a bit spicy but still asked for seconds. I will cut down on the Chili Powder for the kids and just add it to the adult platters after serving.

Chicken Tortilla Crunch Microwave Miracle

(Adapted recipe from AllRecipes.com)

Ready in: 20 min; 8 min Active

Ingredients

1.5 lbs Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast 1 (10.75oz) can Condensed Cream of Chicken 2/3 cup Picante Sauce 2 tsp Chili Powder 1 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese 1 cup Tortilla Chips - coarsely broken
Side:
Salad Supplies: 3 qt Dish & Lid Cutting Board Chopping Knife Mixing Spoon or Ladle

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Instructions

Prep - 5 Min

Step 1

Cut Chicken into strips. Place in Dish.

I've heard rumors that if you buy chicken breast from the butchers section, that you can ask them to slice it up for you. I haven't had the guts to ask yet. 

Step 2
Add Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup, Picante Sauce, & Chili Powder to Dish.
Mix well.

Cook - 15 Min

Note: Recipe tested in a 900 Watt Microwave.

Step 3
Put Lid on and Microwave on High for 12 Minutes.

Step 4
Add Cheese.

Mix well.

Step 5
Top with Chips.


Serve in Dish.

Enjoy!

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Fast Family Feast Test:  Passed! 

Ready in: 20 minutes!

My Score: 10

Husband Score: 9

Kids' Score: 8

Sweet Potato Casserole Microwave Miracle

Quick Thanksgiving Side #3

For the finale of the Quick Thanksgiving Sides for your Fast Family Thanksgiving Feast, here is my Sweet Potato Casserole. This came out so wonderful, especially the caramilzed pecan crumble on top. Now this is VERY VERY sweet, so just beware if you use the full amounts of sugar from the recipe. Next time I make this I will definitely cut down on the sugar. Though my diet hated me for eating this super sweet Sweet Potato Casserole, I loved every bite!! :)

Sweet Potato Casserole Microwave Miracle

(Adapted Yummy Sweet Potato Casserole recipe from Allrecipes.com)

Ready in: 33 min; 20 min Active

Ingredients

5 Sweet Potatoes (4 cups) - peeled & cubed 1/2 cup White Sugar 2 Eggs - beaten 1/2 tsp Salt 4 Tbl Butter - cubed & softened 1/2 cup Milk 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract Pecan Crumble Topping: 1/2 cup Brown Sugar - packed 1/3 cup All-purpose Flour 3 Tbl Butter - cubed & softened 1/2 cup Pecans - coarsely chopped
Supplies: 3qt Dish & Lid Potato Peeler Cutting Board Chopping Knife Measuring cup (optional) Measuring Spoons (optional) Potato Masher 2 Medium Mixing Bowls

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Instructions

Prep - 10 Min

Peel, wash & cube Sweet Potatoes (about 1" cubes).

It may take you less time to prep, but I'm a slow potato peeler.

Add 1/2 cup Water.

Cook - 23 Min

Note: Recipe tested in a 900 Watt Microwave.

Place in Dish and put Lid on. Cook in Microwave on High for 10 min. 

While cooking:
In a med bowl, combine the White Sugar, Eggs, Salt, Milk & Vanilla. Set aside for later.

Make pecan crumble:
In another med bowl, mix the Brown Sugar and Flour. Cut in the Butter, until a coarse crumble. Stir in Pecans. Set aside for later.

I mixed mine TOO much in the Kitchen-Aid so it became dough. Still yummy, but try it more crumbly.

With Lid still on, drain the potatoes.

Carefully remove Lid away from your face as steam will escape.


Add Butter and Egg mix. Mash.

Top with Pecan Crumble, microwave on High for additional 10 minutes.

Warning: Miracle Dish is not recommended for the broiler. 

I only use the Broiler for 2 minutes or less with the Dish at least 3 inches away from the coils.

So if you want to brave it follow this next step.

Broil on High for 1:30 min to brown the crumble.

Serve in Dish.

Enjoy!

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Fast Family Feast Test:  Passed! 

Ready in: 33 minutes!

My Score: 10

Husband Score: 10

Kids' Score: 10

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Mashed Potato Microwave Miracle

Thanksgiving Side #2

Okay this is now my preferred way to make Mashed Potatoes! Super SUPER easy, 1 dish to clean, extra yummy, and best of all save much needed stove space during Thanksgiving Dinner prep!

Hope your family enjoys this as much as ours did! No one will ever know that this was made in the microwave.

Mashed Potato Microwave Miracle

Ready in: 22 min; 10 min Active

Ingredients

5 Potatoes - peeled & cubed 1/2 cup Water 1/2 cup Half & Half 4 Tbl Butter 1 tsp Salt 1/4 tsp Pepper - use white if you have it 2 Tbl Mayonaise
Supplies: 3qt Dish & Lid Potato Peeler Cutting Board Chopping Knife Measuring cup (optional) Measuring Spoons (optional) Potato Masher

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Instructions

Prep: 10 Min

Peel, wash & cube Potatoes (about 1" cubes).

It may take you less time to prep, but I'm a slow potato peeler.

Add 1/2 cup Water.

Cook - 12 Min

Note: Recipe tested in a 900 Watt Microwave.

Place in Dish and put Lid on. Cook in Microwave on High for 12 min. 

With Lid still on, drain the potatoes.


Carefully remove Lid away from your face as steam will escape.

Add remaining ingredients and mash it up.

Serve in Dish.

Enjoy!

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Fast Family Feast Test:  Passed! 

Ready in: 22 minutes!

My Score: 10

Husband Score: 10

Kids' Score: 10

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Green Bean Casserole Microwave Miracle

Thanksgiving sides!

Its that time of year to remember to be thankful, and get together with your family and friends to celebrate together. Even though we don't have any family close, and will be just the 5 of us I will be cooking a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. All except the turkey; I will be stuffing a chicken. One of the recipes I plan on making is Green Bean Casserole. This is my absolute favorite dish at thanksgiving, well beside the jellied cranberry sauce. The only thing I need to figure out now is which recipe do I use my Miracle Dish for. Hmmmm... I think I need a couple more Miracle Dishes.

Oh and the other thing I LOVE about my Princess House Miracle Dish is how lovely it looks on the table. The design on the side is so pretty. I've never had the opportunity to entertain since we live so far away from our family, so I really don't have any nice serving dishes. This beautiful dish can go straight from the Micro to the Table for the nicest meal.

Our family really likes slightly crunchy green beans, so I used fresh, which I steamed in the Dish before assembling. You can substitute with canned if you wish, just leave out the steaming part.

Oh, and there will be enough room in the dish if you need to double the recipe, just increase the time!

Green Bean Casserole Microwave Miracle

(Adapted from a recipe from Campbells' & AllRecipes.com)

Ready in: 12 or 22 min; 2 or 8 min Active

Ingredients

1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup* 1/2 cup Milk* 1 tsp Soy Sauce* 1/8 tsp Pepper 4 cups Fresh Green Beans   - or 2 (14.5oz) cans Cut Green Beans 1 1/3 cups Fried Onions * Use low-soduim/low-fat options if desired
Supplies: 3qt Dish & Lid Mixing Spoon Cutting Board (if using fresh Green Beans) Chopping Knife (if using fresh Green Beans)

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Instructions

Prep: 2 or 10 Min

Skip this step if not using fresh Green Beans.

Trim Green Beans and place in Dish. Add 1/2 cup water.

Cook in Microwave on High for 5 min
(tender crisp), or until desired softness is achieved.

Drain.

Add Soup, Milk, Soy Sauce, Pepper, & 1/2 of the Fried Onions.

Mix.

Cook - 10 or 12 Min

Note: Recipe tested in a 900 Watt Microwave.

Put Lid on and Microwave on High for 10 Minutes.

Stir it up.

Top with Remaining Friend Onions.

You can stop here if you want!
But if you want browned onions go to the next step. Be sure to read the warning though!

Warning: Miracle Dish is not recommended for the broiler. 

I only use the Broiler for 2 minutes or less with the Dish at least 3 inches away from the coils.

So if you want to brave it follow this next step.

Broil on High for 1:30 min.

Serve in Dish.

Enjoy!

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Fast Family Feast Test:  Passed! 

Ready in: 12 to 22 minutes!

My Score: 10

Husband Score: 9

Kids' Score: 10

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