Creamy Chicken and Broccoli Calzones

O.M.G. I want one now!!

Chicken and broccoli are two of the ingredients I love on a white pizza and here they are in a very delicious looking calzone!

These would be awesome for lunch, great appetizers for a party and can probably be frozen for a convenient and quick meal . . . did I mention this is a very economical meal?  It's a great recipe to use up leftovers too! 

The photo and the recipe are from one of my new food blog discoveries, Bev Cooks . . . go to Bev's website for more photos detailing the making of these little treasures :))

Click here to go to the Bev Cooks recipe page.

Collection of Ham Posts from Baking to Leftover Ham Recipes UPDATED

Photo Source:  The Seasoned Mom

Baked Ham has always been on the holiday menu in my home.  Now that I am cooking for one, I still make a baked ham for myself.  The solution is either having lots of ham for delicious ham meals or buy a smaller ham.  I buy a smaller ham and still have ham leftovers.

The following is a list of videos and links to ham related content: 

How much Honey Baked Ham is needed per person?

Pineapple Glazed Ham - The Seasoned Mom

How to Make Spiral Sliced Ham Glazed with Cider-Vinegar Caramel  
America's Test Kitchen

How to Make a Honey Baked Holiday Ham

Food Wishes

How To Make The Perfect Honey Baked Ham

Mr. Make It Happen

Slow Cooker Glazed Ham

Leftover Ham Recipes from The Kitchen Community.org

Leftover Ham Recipes from Taste of Home

Leftover Ham Recipes from The Pioneer Woman

Recipes Made with Leftover Ham from Plain Chicken

36 Leftover Ham Recipes That Will Make You Glad You've Got Extras from The Food Network

Leftover Ham -n- Potato Casserole

Ham-and-Cheese Croquettes

Rita's Sweet Holiday Baked Ham

Double-Duty Heavenly Citrus Ham

Slow Cooker Ham from All Recipes

Brown Sugar Glazed Spiral Ham from Sip and Feast

Homemade Honey Glazed Ham

Brown Sugar-Glazed Ham from Mr. Food

Crockpot Brown Sugar Cola Glazed Ham from Jo Cooks

How to Carve a Ham from Taste of Home

Buttermilk Biscuit Ham Pot Pie

Ham & Egg Pockets

 

MORE TO COME!

Chicken Cordon Bleu Bubble Up

Photo source:  Plain Chicken

"Great weeknight casserole! Only 5 ingredients and ready in 30 minutes. Chicken, swiss, ham, Alfredo sauce tossed with refrigerated biscuits. Everyone cleaned their plate and asked for seconds!"  Comment from Plain Chicken

Love those recipes that take advantage of leftovers and are semi-homemade.  

This one is quick, easy and economical!  Oh yeah, delicious too.

A word about alfredo sauce out of a jar . . . they are a bargain (generic brands are just as good) and give you the best bang for your buck.  I have not found a brand that did not turn out delicious.  It is what you do with that plain jar of sauce, how you doctor it up . . . the flavored ones are awesome.  My favorite is roasted red pepper.  Adding a jar to a sofrito of onion, peppers and garlic, along with your spices of choice, is the beginning of a wonderful meal for me.  

The alfredo sauces are on buy one get one free sale at least once a month at my local grocery store, so I make sure to stock up and always have at least a couple of jars on hand for a quick and delicious meal.

Click here to go to the Plain Chicken recipe page.

Chicken Divan Casserole

 

Photo source:  Taste of Home

"Sometimes, a casserole is more than just a casserole; it’s Chicken Divan. This chicken Divan recipe is decadent, delicious and requires very little prep time, thanks to some already-prepared ingredients such as condensed chicken soup, cooked chicken and cooked rice. Even the broccoli is already cut. Easy broccoleasy."  Comment from Taste of Home

Quick, easy, use leftovers makes a good combination and I love all the ingredients.  

Click here to go to the Taste of Home recipe page.

Potato Croquettes

 

Photo source:  Jo Cooks

"These are what I make when I’ve got leftover mashed potatoes (or an excuse to make mashed potatoes just to fry them). They’re loaded with bacon, stuffed with cheddar and provolone, and fried to golden perfection. Crispy shell, gooey middle, the kind of snack that disappears before you’ve even sat down. And yes, I’ve absolutely eaten them cold straight from the fridge."  Comment from Jo Cooks

Love this recipe!  Not only does it use leftovers, but I love all the ingredients and they sound delicious.

Click here to go to the Jo Cooks recipe page.

Chicken Biscuit Casserole

Photo source:  Taste of Home

 

"Chicken biscuit casserole is rich and satisfying with a broccoli cheddar base and a buttery biscuit topping. The recipe comes together in about an hour and is a great way to use up leftover chicken."  Comment from Taste of Home

There are so many things I love about this recipe.  It is quick and easy, great to use up leftovers or use rotisserie chicken, use canned biscuits making it semi-homemade.  I have no doubt this will be a recipe that I will make on a regular basis.

Click here to go to the Taste of Home recipe page.

Navy Bean Soup

 

Photo source:  Taste of Home

"When comfort food calls, make this hearty navy bean soup. It's soul-warming and filling, a perfect way to use up leftover ham."  Comment from Taste of Home

Lima bean soup is my favorite soup that I make often.  It is always my way to use up leftover ham.  This recipe is different than mine and I am happy to have another version of one of my favorite meals.

Click here to go to the Taste of Home recipe page.

Ham-and-Cheese Croquettes

 

Photo source:  The Food Network

These croquettes remind me of a tuna fish croquette that my nana made that were delicious.  Wish I had the recipe.  

Ham and cheese croquettes look like a delicious choice for appetizers or a snack.  Substitute the ham with chicken or pork for a variety of croquettes.  Love the possibilities.

Use your ham leftovers for this recipes.

The recipe doesn't specify adding the ham and cheese, but I assume it is after the dough is cut.

Click here to go to The Food Network recipe page.

Leftover Ham -n- Potato Casserole

 

Photo source:  All Recipes

"This easy, cheesy ham and potato casserole uses up leftover Christmas or Easter ham! It's perfect for a post-holiday breakfast or weeknight dinner. My family looks forward to this classic combination."  Comment from All Recipes

Love these leftover recipes since I am cooking for one and have to find these recipes instead of having to throw away too many leftovers.

Click here to go to the All Recipes recipe page.

Grandma Dot's Stuffing Balls

 

Photo source:  All Recipes

"Stuffing balls are exactly what they sound like — balls of stuffing! This recipe is a great option for people looking for a bite-sized appetizer or side dish that has all the traditional Thanksgiving flavor (with a fun twist)."  Comment from All Recipes

What an awesome idea!  Stuffing is one of my favorites and I never thought of making them into balls for an appetizer or snacking.  An idea is to use leftover stuffing.  Gotta try it!

Click here to go to the All Recipes recipe page.

Leftovers That Spoil Faster Than You Think

 

"Leftovers are a normal part of cooking, but that’s especially true during the holidays when refrigerators are packed with half-finished casseroles, carved turkey, and your favorite starch-filled sides. And while many dishes stay safe for up to a week in the fridge, some leftovers do not have the long shelf life we tend to assume" comment about food safety and leftovers from Real Simple.

Click here to go to the informative article and find out which leftovers do not have a long shelf life. 
 

More article links:

Here's How Long Your Leftover Turkey Will Last in the Refrigerator and Freezer

How Long Common Leftovers Last in the Fridge, from Chicken to Pizza

Turkey Pot Pie Pockets

 

Photo source: The Seasoned Mom

Love this recipe!  These pot pie pockets are perfect for freezer meals that are quick and easy  Would be an awesome snack.  

When you have leftovers after a big turkey meal, make these pot pie pockets for a different type of leftover meals.  The cream cheese and puff pastry make it very interesting to me.  Puff pastry makes it so easy.  You can substitute turkey with chicken or pork.

Blair at The Seasoned Mom always has awesome recipes. Click here to go to Blair's recipe page.

Easy Fajita Pasta Bake

Love these economical, quick and easy semi-homemade meals!

This is one of those recipes that will stretch your leftover chicken another day.  

How about using some of that leftover turkey?

This recipe comes from Pillsbury, so you know it has got to be good!

Ingredients

2 cups thinly sliced red and green bell peppers

1 small white onion, chopped

2 cups uncooked penne pasta (6 oz)

1 lb shredded cooked chicken breast 

1 package (1 oz) Old El Paso™ taco seasoning mix

1 cup whipping cream

1 cup shredded Colby-Monterey jack cheese blend (4 oz)

Directions

Heat oven to 350°F.

Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray.

Spray 10- to 12-inch skillet with cooking spray. Heat over medium heat.

Add 2 cups thinly sliced red and green bell peppers and 1 chopped small white onion to skillet. cook and stir about 10 minutes or until tender.

Cook 2 cups uncooked penne pasta as directed. Drain

Toss together until combined . . . cooked pasta, bell peppers and onion, 1 lb shredded cooked chicken breast, 1 package Old El Paso™ taco seasoning mix and 1 cup whipping cream.

Pour into baking dish.

Sprinkle 1 cup shredded Colby-Monterey jack cheese blend (4 oz) evenly over top.

Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until thoroughly heated and cheese is melted.


Source:  Pillsbury.com

Creamy Cheesy Ham Chowder

This creamy and cheesy chowder is great for giving leftover ham new life on the dinner table. It also makes use of leftover vegetables . . . don't be confined to the vegetables listed on the recipe, use what you have on hand!

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 30 min. Cook: 20 min.
MAKES 10 servings


Ingredients

• 10 bacon strips, diced
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 cup diced carrots
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3 cups milk
• 1-1/2 cups water
• 2-1/2 cups cubed potatoes
• 1 can (15-1/4 ounces) whole kernel corn, drained
• 2 teaspoons chicken bouillon granules
• Pepper to taste
• 3 cups (12 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
• 2 cups cubed fully cooked ham

Directions

In a Dutch oven, cook the bacon over medium heat until crisp. Using a slotted spoon, remove to paper towels to drain. In the drippings, saute onion and carrots until tender. Stir in flour until blended. Gradually add milk and water. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.

Add the potatoes, corn, bouillon and pepper. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Add cheese and ham; heat until cheese is melted. Stir in bacon. 

Originally published as Cheesy Ham Chowder in 

Quick Cooking September/October 2000, p7

The Captain's Pork Stew

Who said that leftovers have to be boring?  We had some pork roast left over from our delicious meals of black beans and rice with roast pork.  The Captain made a delicious pork stew out of the leftovers!  I can't tell you how much money we have just thrown down the garbage can until we started coming up with ways to turn one meal into another.  

There are many things you can do with leftover pork roast.  My favorite is to make sandwiches on some good hoagie bread.  How about a pot of any type of beans with the leftover pork thrown in?  I've used them in my famous "Gina's Cuban Style Fried Rice" . . . actually, all types of leftovers end up in that dish!

Ingredients:

1-3 lbs Gina’s Mojo Pork* or your roast pork

1-3 large onions quartered

4-8 medium potatoes cut into bite sized pieces

1-2 heaping tablespoons of minced garlic

½ to 1 12 oz can of tomato sauce

½ to 1 can corn

½ to 1 can peas

Salt

Pepper

2 quarts of water

Directions:

Bring the water to a boil and add the onions, garlic, and potatoes boil for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile slice or shred Gina’s Mojo Pork, keep some of the fat and discard the rest.

Reduce the onions/potato/garlic mixture to a simmer and add Gina’s Mojo Pork. Add just enough tomato sauce to taste. When the stew simmers add salt and pepper to taste.

Occasionally stir the stew. As it cooks it will become long shreds of pork and the sauce will reduce.  When the potatoes have become soft (about 20 minutes), mash them against the side of the pot to break them apart.

Add the corn and peas.  Heat until steaming and serve with biscuits.

  

*The spices used in Gina's Mojo Pork do have an impact on the outcome of the total flavor of the stew.  I highly recommend making the pork for a main meal and using the leftovers for the stew.

This recipe was shared at the following linky parties:

Alfredo Pot Pie - Chicken or Turkey

Great for leftovers!  

This is another semi-homemade recipe that utilizes alfredo sauce in a jar.  It is also adaptable to what you have on hand.  Although the recipe calls for turkey, I would use chicken.  Another change I would make is to use fresh vegetables (I really don't like the frozen veggies).  Love the idea of using refrigerator biscuits . . . we usually use puff pastry.

Quick and easy for those days that don't have enough hours in the day.

Ingredients

1 bag (12 oz) Green Giant® Valley Fresh Steamers® frozen broccoli, carrots, cauliflower & cheese sauce

1 tablespoon butter

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper

1 jar (15 oz) Alfredo sauce

2 cups cubed cooked turkey

3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 can (12 oz) Pillsbury® Grands!® Jr. Golden Layers® refrigerated buttermilk biscuits (10 biscuits)

2 tablespoons shredded fresh Parmesan cheese


Steps

Heat oven to 375°F. Spray 8-inch square (2-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. Cook frozen vegetables as directed on bag for minimum time.

Meanwhile, in 10-inch nonstick skillet, melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium heat. Cook onion and bell pepper in butter about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender. Stir in Alfredo sauce, turkey or chicken, cooked vegetables with sauce, basil and black pepper. Cook until mixture is thoroughly heated and bubbly, stirring constantly. Spoon into baking dish.

Separate dough into 10 biscuits. Cut each biscuit in half crosswise. Arrange around edge of baking dish, overlapping slightly. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until biscuits are golden brown.

Source:  Pillsbury

Chicken and Rice ~ Two variations

Since we found that awesome little neighborhood meat market and deli that runs ridiculously cheap specials on chicken, don't you know we have been eating a lot of chicken.  I've said it before, but it is worth repeating . . . it is well worth the effort of looking for these little markets that offer package deals.  Even after getting a great deal on a package, our market will offer buy one get one free whole chickens.  Woohoo . . . double savings!!!  We usually buy a package that will provide us enough chicken for a whole month . . . so much cheaper buying this way!

To save on time, it is also a good idea to cook enough chicken in order to have leftovers for another meal.  Buy chicken stock and cream of chicken type soups when they are on sale to have on hand, they are awesome for putting together a delicious meal from leftovers.

The following two videos are all about chicken and rice . . . a great dish that is perfect for leftovers.  When you learn the basic techniques of putting these type of meals together, you can vary them to what you have on hand or what you like.

Fiesta Chicken Taco Cups

Love the concept of this recipe, using refrigerated crescent dinner rolls in a muffin tin to form these cups that can be used in a number of food combinations.

I'm not sold on the taco sauce with chicken, but with a little imagination, all types of recipes can be adapted from this basic idea.  I'm thinking more along the idea of italian sausage with peppers, onions and cheese . . . left over roast pork with barbeque sauce . . . something similar to chicken pot pie . . . breakfast cups with scrambled eggs, ham and cheese.

You can even use this idea for dessert . . . apple pie filling with a cream cheese topping . . . whatever you like!!  The possibilities are endless :)))  I love these type of food discoveries!

Wouldn't it be awesome to make these in different variations as appetizers for a party?

I'm an advocate of using leftovers for other meals . . . this idea is perfect for using those small quantities of food leftovers to make a meal with variety or lunches to go?  I'm sure these little cups would reheat in a microwave at work with no problem.

Now that I've got you thinking of alternatives . . . the original recipe follows!

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups refrigerated taco sauce with seasoned chicken (from 18-oz container)

1/2 cup Green Giant® Niblets® frozen corn (from 1-lb bag)

1 can (8 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated crescent dinner rolls

1 tablespoon yellow cornmeal

1/2 cup finely shredded Mexican cheese blend (2 oz)

Sour cream, salsa or sliced ripe olives, if desired

Directions:

Heat oven to 375°F. 

Spray 8 medium muffin cups with cooking spray. 

In 1-quart saucepan, heat taco sauce with chicken over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until thoroughly heated.

Unroll dough and separate into 4 rectangles; press each into 8x4-inch rectangle, firmly pressing perforations to seal. 

Cut each in half crosswise, making 8 squares. 

Sprinkle both sides of each square with cornmeal. 

Press each in bottom and up side of muffin cup; turn edges of dough under, pressing to extend 1/4 inch above edge of cup.

Spoon about 2 tablespoons chicken mixture into each cup. 

Sprinkle cheese over each.

Bake 12 to 17 minutes or until edges are deep golden brown. 

Cool in pan on wire rack 5 minutes; remove from muffin cups. 

Serve warm.

Nutrition Information:

1 Serving (1 Serving)

• Calories 340
• (Calories from Fat 140),

• Total Fat 15g
• (Saturated Fat 6g,),
• Cholesterol 45mg;
• Sodium 1330mg;
• Total Carbohydrate 38g
• (Dietary Fiber 3g,
• Sugars 10g),
• Protein 14g;

Percent Daily Value*

:

Exchanges:  

• 2 1/2 Starch;
• 1 Lean Meat;
• 2 Fat;

Carbohydrate Choices:

• 2 1/2;

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Recipe and photo source:  Betty Crocker . . . always a great source for awesome recipes and food inspiration!