Egg Cups with Asparagus, Gruyere & Ham

These are so adorable! I was happy to use my muffin tins for more than my cute cupcakes for once! These are perfect for a quick breakfast but elegant enough to serve at a brunch. Asparagus season is now, so buy up those slender stalks because they are perfect for this recipe. And they are sure delish!

<3 Lishie

Egg Cups with Asparagus, Gruyere & Ham

• 12 eggs, beaten
• 1 c cooked ham, chopped
• 1 c asparagus, chopped into 1" pieces
• 1/2 c gruyere, shredded
• 1/4 c milk
• fresh parsley

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.  

Spray 12 muffin tin cups with cooking spray.

Mix together all of the ingredients.  Add the mixture evenly to all 12 cups.  Bake for 13-14 minutes or until puffed and browned.  

Stovetop Ham Mac & Cheese with Asparagus

I was thrilled. Oh so happy. Easter meant leftover ham. I hardly ever get to make ham at home since the hubs doesn't really like it much! I gladly accepted leftover, slick slices of my sis-in-law's spiral ham...

Then I made this meal, for one... Leftovers of this await me as well :) 

<3 Lishie

Stovetop Ham, Mac & Cheese with Asparagus

• 1 lb. medium pasta shells
• 1-2 TBSp olive oil
• 1 small, red pepper, diced
• 1 small bunch of fresh asparagus, trimmed & diced into 1-2" pieces
• 1/2 lb. thick-sliced ham 
• s & p, to taste
• 1 c mixed, shredded cheddar cheese

Cook pasta al dente (save 1/2 c of cooking water before draining.)

In a deep-sided saute pan, heat the olive oil. Add the pepper, asparagus & ham. Saute until the veg is tender. Drain the pasta, reserving 1/2 c of the cooking water... Add the pasta to the saute pan with the ham & veg... Quickly stir in the shredded cheese. Add as much of the reserved cooking water as needed to thin out the cheese & combine the ingredients. Serve!

Monte Cristo Sandwich... my version

OK, this is my new favorite sandwich, my new favorite grilled cheese... it's like having French toast for dinner but so much more. I've always liked the idea of the actual Monte Cristo Sandwich but not the components. I generally don't like two meats together & I do not like Swiss cheese. But the idea of grilled ham & cheese, French toast-style- yum. Here's what I did...

Monte Cristo Sandwich

• 2 pats of butter
• 2 Slices White Bread
• Couple of Slices of Deli Honey Ham
• Freshly grated Gruyere Cheese
• 1 Egg
• a Pinch of Cinnamon

Scramble the raw egg in a bowl, whisk in the cinnamon.


Meanwhile, heat a non-stick griddle pan (any pan you'd use for a grilled cheese) on medium-high. Place a pat of butter on & allow it to melt & sizzle up. Dip one side of one piece of bread in the egg mix. Place the dipped side down onto the buttered griddle. Top it with the ham & then the grated Gruyere. Dip one side of the other slice of bread in the egg mix. Place the Non-dipped side onto the sandwich/cheese. When the bottom of the sandwich (touching the griddle) is browned on the edges, place the second pat of butter down & flip! Cook until the new side is also browned on the edges. 


OMGoodness, so good!!! The hint of the cinnamon complements the honeyed ham perfectly. Of course, you can use any type of ham & you can use Swiss cheese instead. You could also throw in the deli turkey. I had a craving for deli & I have to be careful- cooked is best for me so this came to mind & I am so glad it did. My new favorite concoction.