Nice Ham glut. Surely if anyone can help, MNers can!

[MarineIguana]

Well DP did the xmas shop, and I'd put "ham" on the list (meaning a normal packet with a few slices) and he bought an enormous lump of posh christmassy ham. It looks lovely, but it says once open use within 2 days and it's just us at home this year.

When the 2 days start, we are going to have ham for every meal so what would you do with it? Apart from just eating it with pickle and bread, what ham recipes?

When you have gone through all the nice slices and it is getting a bit dry, then use chunks in things like lentil soup, or risotto, where the dryness won't matter.

Great, would not have thought of risotto. Thanks PG

I am just envious of your ham!

Tear up chunks and add them to the top of a pizza, which you can then have with mountains of salad when you need a break from festive richness.

When I cook a ham I often freeze some in slices for sandwiches, or chunks for soups/pasta/risotto etc. I don't see why you can't do that with a bought one?

Pea and ham soup?

Reckon it will be fine for much longer than 2 days though, they are just being uber cautious.

I guess you can freeze it...! after all you get frozen pizza with ham on.

Pizza and soup also on the menu. I knew MN would have the ham wisdom :)

Ooh, just last night I made a ham, leek and potato gratin to use up a chunk of leftover cooked ham my MIL brought round - it was good; here's what I did.

Saute 2 large finely sliced leeks in knob of butter & splash of olive oil.

Add a little flour & cook in (this is to thicken sauce a bit).

Gradually add appx 150 mls milk, 150 mls white wine and 150mls chicken stock, and 1 crushed garlic clove, to make a sort of winey white sauce.

Add roughly broken up ham and enough thinly sliced potato fill up the pot.

Season with lots of black pepper and salt. And bring to a boil.

Bung in oven at 180 C with a lid on for about 20 mins until potatoes are starting to soften. Then remove lid, chuck a load of grated cheese on top and cook for a further 30 mins.

This was good for my lot - it would have been better with the addition of a carton of cream, but we didn't have any.

Do this leftover pie or use it as inspiration to make fresh pie fillings to freeze and then bung into the oven with a pastry crust: ham and mushroom, ham and leek, and chicken and ham are all delicious.

Eggs benedict for brunch mmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Yum at all this!