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

Eggplant Supper Soup Microwave Miracle

To bad the kids didn't like this recipe that much, because my husband and I loved it and I WILL be making it again! Sorry girls.

This is a very hearty dish I adapted from Allrecipes. The eggplant seems to take on a wonderful meaty taste. I personally will be leaving out the macaroni next time, the soup really doesn't need it, and really who needs those extra carbs.

Eggplant Supper Soup Microwave Miracle

(Adapted from a recipe from AllRecipes.com)

Ready in: 37 min; 16 min Active

Ingredients

1 Onion - chopped 1 lb Ground beef 1/2 cup Dry Macaroni 1 clove Garlic - pressed (or use powder) 2 Eggplants - cubed 15 Baby Carrots - sliced 2 stalks Celery - sliced 2 cans Italian diced tomatoes - drained 1 tsp sugar 1/2 tsp Nutmeg 1 tsp Salt 1/2 tsp Black Pepper 1 tsp Parsley 2 (14 oz) cans Beef Broth 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese - grated
Side:
Salad Supplies: 3 qt Dish & Lid Cutting Board Chopping Knife Mixing Spoon or Ladle

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Instructions

Prep - 15 Min

Chop Onion and mix with Ground Beef in Dish.

Microwave on High for 6 min or until browned.

While cooking:

• Cube Eggplant
• Slice Carrots & Celery
• Open cans

Add Pasta, Eggplant, Carrots, Celery, Garlic, & Spices.

Pour in Beef Broth. Its okay if the broth doesn't cover the veggies, as long as it is covering the pasta you are good.

Cook - 22 Min

Note: Recipe tested in a 900 Watt Microwave.

Put Lid on and Microwave on High for 22 Minutes.

Stir it up.

Top with Parsley & Parmesan Cheese.

Serve in Dish.

Enjoy!

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Fast Family Feast Test:  Passed! 

Ready in: 37 minutes!

My Score: 9

Husband Score: 9

Kids' Score: 5

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Microwave Miracle Lentils & Rice

Welcome to the wonderful world of Majedra aka Lentils and Rice!

Majedra is a fantastic Middle Eastern dish, its fantastic because it is delish, its super cheap, and reheats well.  My whole family loves this and works great as a older baby food.

Now when I made this, I didn't precook the lentils long enough before putting in the rice, so when my rice was done the lentils were still a bit on the crunchy side.  So I upped the lentil cooking time from the 5 minutes that I did, to 10 minutes in the recipe.  I would make sure that you lentils are bubbling for about 3 minutes before adding the rice.  Let me know if 10 minutes was enough time. Thanks!

My Microwave

I also wanted to let you know, that all the times listed are for 900 watt microwaves.  Honestly I'm not sure what the different times might be for higher or lower wattage, but I'm sure my wonderfully smart readers can figure it out.  I would love if you could post a comment with your times if you have a different wattage.

If you don't know what your wattage is, there should be a sticker with the Model number on the inside of the microwave or door, or maybe on the back.  Type it into Google and find the info on your model. I also found out I have 1.3 cubic feet of awesome microwavable space, because I'm sure you were on the edge of your seat about that.

Microwave Miracle Majedra (Lentils & Rice)

Ready in: 31 min     Est. Cost:  $6.88

Ingredients

1 cup Lentils	$0.33
1 cup Rice	0.25
1 can Chicken Broth	0.69
2 cups Water
1 Onion - chopped	0.42
1 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Pepper
1/2 tsp Cumin - optional
Garnish Options:
Lemon Juice	0.50
Greek or Plain Yogurt	1.00
Side:
Salad	2.50
Total Estimated Cost	$6.88

Instructions

Prep - 1 Min

Rinse Lentils. Place in Dish and add Chicken Broth and Water.

Cook - 30 Min

Note: Recipe tested in a 900 Watt Microwave.

Put Lid on and Microwave on High for 10 Minutes.

Lentils should be boiling for about 3-5 minutes before taking out, so add extra time as nessesary.
Chop Onions while lentils cook.

Add Rice, Onions and Spices.
Stir.

Microwave on High an additional 20 minutes.

Serve with Salad, and top with either Lemon Juice or Yogurt.

Enjoy!

Fast Family Feast Test:  Passed! 

Ready in 31 minutes & less than $10!

My Score: 8

Husband Score: 8

Kids' Score: 10

Microwave Miracle Chicken Tortilla Soup

Okay this was absolutely the best meal I've made so far!

This is a family favorite slow cooker recipe from allrecipes.com for Slow-Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup by Elena.  But I like it so much better in the Miracle Dish; the veggies still have a bit of a crunch.  My husband thought the chicken didn't have quite as much flavor, but he liked the crunchy veggies, so he though it was a great give and take and gave it a 9. Phew, passed the husband test.  Now the kids loved this the first day, but leftovers the next day was a bit too spicy for them, so they gave it a 4.

Oh, the only part of this test that failed was the amount of ingredients, there are A LOT of spices.  I find I don't have the patience to open more than 3 spice jars.  Hmmm, maybe that's just me, but next time I'm going to try substituting the long list of spices with 1 Taco Seasoning packet.  I will also try using leftover shredded chicken instead of frozen.  That will be for Chicken Tortilla Soup - The Sequel.

Microwave Miracle Chicken Tortilla Soup

Ready in: 36 min     Est. Cost:  $17.28 

Ingredients

1 lbs Frozen Chicken Tenders	$4.40
1 Onion - chopped	0.45
1 cup Frozen Corn Kernels	2.00
1 (15oz) can Diced Tomatoes	1.00
1 (10oz) can Enchilada Sauce	1.69
1/2 (4oz) can Chopped Green Chili Peppers	0.69
1 (14.5oz) can Chicken Broth	1.00
1 cup Water
2 Cloves Garlic - pressed
1 tsp Cumin
1 tsp Chili Powder
1 tsp Salt & 1/4 tsp Pepper
1 Bay Leaf
2 tsp Dried Cilantro
Toppings:
Bag of Tortilla Chips	2.00
Sour Cream	0.25
Shredded Cheese	1.00
Sides:
Bag of Salad	2.00
1 Box Corn Bread Mix, 1/3 c Milk,& 1 egg	0.80
Total Estimated Cost	$17.28

Instructions

The Prep - 5 Min

Chop Onions. Use lid to chop on.
(No washing a cutting board + 1)

Place Frozen Chicken, Onion, Corn, Tomatoes, Enchilada Sauce, Chiles, Broth and Water in Dish.

Add Garlic, Cumin, Chili Powder, Salt & Pepper, Bay Leaf, and Cilantro.
Stir it up.

Cooking - 36 Min

Put Lid on and Microwave on High for 30 Minutes.

Check that the lid is still in place every once in a while, I can't seem to get mine perfectly centered and sometimes it gets knocked off a bit.

Oh and this will be HEAVY so be CAREFUL PLEASE!!!

Either pre-mix Boxed Corn Bread mix in another bowl.
-or-
Wait until soup is done and use the Lid as a mixing bowl. (No washing mixing bowl +1)

DO NOT cover, and Microwave on High for 3 min. Just until the center rises.

If you want the Cornbread browned on top, just put it under the Broiler for about 1:30 min.

The Miracle Dish instructions said to not use it under the broiler, but using my own common sense, deduced that I could lower the rack and have the time exposed be short. 
I was especially not afraid of it cracking since it was already hot.

Serve the Salad on the side, keep Soup in the Dish and the Corn Bread in the Lid, for a lovely presentation.

(No washing serving dishes  +2)

Top with Shredded Cheese, Sour Cream, and Tortilla Chips.

Seriously this was FANTASTIC, I'm getting hungry again just looking at the pics. : )

Enjoy!

Fast Family Feast Test:  Passed! Ready in 36 minutes.


My Score: 10
Husband Score: 9
Kid's Score: 6

Note: Recipe tested in a 900 watt microwave

Microwave Miracle Dish Italian Sausage & Potatoes

This dish was awesome. I cooked it a little long (36 Min), so they weren't "plump" per say, but I'm always a bit scared of cooking pork; period. When I do them on the grill, they usually end up as jerky. I never can seem to tell if it is still pink, if the juices are clear, etc... So after this dish  I made sure to get my cooking thermometer to check so I don't over cook things, and so I can give you the best time estimates I can!

Let me know how 32 Minutes works for you!

Microwave Miracle Dish Italian Sausage, Potatoes, and Green Beans

Ready in: 42 min     Est. Cost:  $13.10 

Ingredients

Ingredient	Price
2 lbs Frozen Mild Italian Sausage Links	$8.00
1 onion	0.45
7 Med Potatoes	2.00
Salt & Pepper	~0.05
1 tsp Olive Oil	~0.10
Side: Steam-able Bag Frozen Green Beans	$2.50
Total Estimated Cost	$13.10

Instructions

The Prep - 3 Min

Coarsely chop Potatoes and Onion, place in Dish. Use lid to chop on. (No washing a cutting board + 1)

Sprinkle potatoes with Salt and Pepper to taste, drizzle Olive Oil, and mix.

Place Frozen Sausage on top, and put the Lid on.
I will also be trying this raw and post the timing.

Cooking - 39 Min

Microwave on High for 15 minutes. Remove Miracle Dish, use potholders. 

Rearrange the sausage for even browning. Finish Microwaving on High for 17 minutes.

Carefully check internal temperature of at least 165 F.  If not up to temp yet, replace lid and microwave in 2 minute increments until done.

Cook Steam-able Frozen Bag of Green Beans in the microwave for recommended time. 5-8 minutes.


Serve Green Beans in Lid. 

(No washing serving dish  +1)

Enjoy!

General Cooking Guidelines

1 lb Frozen Pork Sausage = 15 to 17 minutes

Fast Family Feast Test:  Passed! Ready in 42 minutes.


Note: Recipe tested in a 900 watt microwave