Protein Stretchers

I thought I would talk about what you can do to stretch the protein when you are making a dish with little protein.

  I ran across a recipe for a ham and veggie casserole with  a little,white sauce with cheese on it. I n that case I would mimic the tasts of the sauce and make a cheese biscuit to go with.  These  would also taste good  potato soup,or a salad with some meat in it.

I get a bag of ham cubes (about a 1/4 inch dice ) when I can find them.  I used to get them  cheap at grocery outlet.  I got them the last time at QFC.  They are not cheap at QFC, I watch for them.  Winco has  them cheaper if we get up there. H am is a strong taste and we can get several meals out of a 4 dollar or less bag...

• Ham, peppers and pineapple pizza ( split pineapple can from a sweet and sour pork or chicken. ( stair step)
• Ham and cheese quiche 
• Split pea and ham soup
• Ham and scalloped potatoes
• Ham and cheese pasta
• potato and ham Cassarole 

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Potato and Ham Cassarole 

Cut up:

2 Cups  russet potatoes, cubed

1 Cup carrots, sliced

1 cup celerymchopped, sliced

Cook , covered, in a microwave safe bowl with 1/2 cup water with a dash of salt about 5 minutes .  Add 4 T chopped peppers and onion ( TOTAL). Stir,  cook an additional 3-4 minutes or until the peppers and onion is crisp tender.  

Grease a microwave safe Cassarole.  Transfer the veggies to the casserole.  make 2 cups of white sauce with cheese,  pour sauce and 1 cup ham cubes into casserole and stir.  Heat for. 3-4 minutes.  

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Cheddar Biscuits  

place in food processor

2 cups flour

1T baking powder

2 T sugar

1/2 tsp salt

Pulse dry ingredients together.  

Add  6T butter and pulse until butter Los the size of peas.  

Add

4 ounce cheese, grated and pulse 3-4 times (seconds). 

Add  3/4 cup milk and pulse just long enough to combine wet and dry ingredients.  Do not over mix.  

Pat dough flat.  Cut Bisquits.  Bake 20-25 minutes at 450 degrees.  

Another way to boost protein is to add a pudding or creme brûlée for desert.

Thanks for stopping by

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Jane