Prosciutto & Mozzarella Bites

There is a lot to love about Friday. After a busy week, Friday evenings bring the feeling of anticipation of what a great weekend may reserve. Fridays are perfect for unwinding and sharing good moments with friends. Naturally, every celebration is better when complemented with good food.

Several finger foods are quick to prepare and they are full of flavor too. The “Prosciutto and Mozzarella Bites” recipe is one of them. It combines some of my favorite ingredients: prosciutto, herbs, cheese and olive oil.

Prosciutto means “ham” in Italian and here it is commonly associated with a type of dry-cured ham from central and northern Italy. It seems that the Italians have been making this fantastic ham since 100 B.C. and it is traditionally paired with melon or figs. In my opinion prosciutto is a great on appetizers and pasta.

Here is an easy and fast recipe that you may enjoy:

Prosciutto and Mozzarella Bites

Ingredients:

4oz of sliced prosciutto

6oz of mozzarella cheese

½ tablespoon of olive oil

1 tablespoon of fresh oregano, chopped

½ tablespoon of fresh marjoram, chopped (optional)


Cut the prosciutto in half lengthwise. Cut each half into 3 equal pieces. Reserve.

Cut mozzarella cheese into 1 inch cubes. Wrap each mozzarella cube with a strip of prosciuto and secure with a toothpick.

Transfer prepared mozzarella cubes to a serving dish. Drizzle olive oil over them. Top with fresh herbs and serve immediately.


Note: You may use fresh mozzarella, if you like.

Traditional Easter Meal

If you are planning a traditional Easter party, I have a menu suggestion for you. You can start with Shrimp Deviled Eggs and Sausage Rolls, followed by Mango Chutney Glazed Ham with Glazed Carrots and Roasted Asparagus. To finish this great meal, you can serve easy and tasty individual Fruit Tarts.

I wish you a Happy Easter!

Effortless Slow Cooker Glazed Easter Ham

 You can prepare a delicious and juicy Glazed Ham with very little effort when you let a slow cooker do all the work for you.

Ingredients:

• 1 (8 pound) smoked ham, bone-in, skin on
• 1 cup of light brown sugar, packed
• 1 cup apple juice
• 1 teaspoon honey
• ½ cup hot mango chutney
• Dash of ground hot chili pepper
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Place the ham in the crock pot, and pour the apple juice over it. In a medium bowl, mix honey, chutney, chili pepper, salt and pepper until combined. Spread prepared mixture over ham.

Cover and cook the ham over low for 6 to 8 hours. Serve it hot or at room temperature.

Good old Lasagna

You can call me old fashion but I am a big fan of traditional pasta dishes, especially lasagna (spelled “lasagne” in Italy). It is a delicious savory pie! You can layer this broad noodles with pretty much anything you like, including vegetables, cheese, meats and tomatoes.

I prepare this comforting dish in different ways, but today I would like to share with you the lasagna recipe that brings back sweet childhood memories. I will always enjoy this simple lasagna as if I was trying it for the first time.

Lean Ham Lasagna

Ingredients:
1 lb of egg roll wrappers
1 lb can crushed tomato
4oz of tomato paste
1 cup of water of chicken broth
8oz of sliced provolone cheese
¼ cup of parmesan cheese, shredded
10oz of mozzarella cheese, sliced
12oz of lean smoked ham, thin sliced
3 cloves of garlic, minced
1 tablespoon of olive oil
6 large leaves of fresh basil, chopped
½ teaspoon of dry oregano
½ teaspoon of dry Italian seasoning
¼ teaspoon of sugar
Salt, to taste

Preheat the oven to 375F.

In a heavy sauce pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes or until it is very fragrant. Stir in crushed tomatoes, chicken stock, sugar and tomato paste. Cook over medium-low heat for about 10 minutes. Stir in basil, Italian seasoning and oregano. Season with salt. Simmer for about 10 minutes and remove from heat.

Cover the bottom of a large casserole dish with the marinara sauce. Add a layer of egg roll wrappers, cutting the edges with necessary to make it fir. Apply another layer of sauce, followed by a layer of ham and then sliced cheese. Repeat the layers until there are no more egg roll wrappers. Finish the lasagna with a generous layer of marinara sauce and sprinkle parmesan cheese on top.

Bake uncovered for 40 to 45 minutes.

Serves 8.