navy beans with polenta

What to do with those thanksgiving leftovers! I made navy beans with the ham.

• ham hock with meat on
• navy beans 

1. brown the ham hock then stick it in with the navy beans while slow cooking. The meat will fall off the bone. 
2. a couple hours later when cooked, cut the ham off the bone and discard the bone
3. serve topped with a dollop of plain yogurt and a piece of polenta

easy marinara

This marinara is easy and quick to make, AND delicious.

• 1 can crushed tomatoes


• a little tomato paste


• olive oil


• onion and garlic puree in processor


• sausage (optional)


• red wine (optional)


• fresh basil, oregano, bay leaf chopped

1. heat a generous amount of olive oil

2. when olive oil is nice and hot add sausage, onion and garlic. Sauté

3. pour in a little red wine

4. When sausage has a nice brown to it, pour in the crushed tomatoes and add a little tomato paste

5. stir constantly and  add chopped herbs

let sit for a little while for flavors to mix together.

-tip- you can make this with just olive oil, tomatoes and basil. The key is to use a generous portion of olive oil and make sure it is really hot when you pour in the tomatoes

super quick homemade dinner for the busy family

This is a nice meal for the really busy family. We got home late from school and after school activities, kids are starving, need to eat, do homework and get ready for bed so I made this super quick meal. It's healthy and home made and the kids love it.

• ham steak heated in pan


• sweet potatoes steamed topped with butter and a little brown sugar


• romaine, croutons, and good dressing makes a great caesar salad


• green beans steamed topped with a little parmesan cheese, garlic salt and butter served over spaghetti noodles tossed in olive oil, a little butter, parmesan cheese, and garlic salt

-Tip- I like to add a little butter, just a touch, along with olive oil for flavor

family style whole roasted chicken

A Graham family favorite because it doesn't take much effort and tastes great. We love to roast chicken and vegetables. The whole house smells delicious and we can help the kids with home work and do anything we need to do while the food cooks itself.

Roasted Whole Chicken with vegetables

Olive oil all over chicken

salt pepper

oregano, garlic/onion powder, marjoram

stuff with fresh herbs from garden (thyme, green onions, rosemary, lavender)

cover with foil and place in oven at 375

After about 30 minutes take foil off so chicken will be golden on top

Roasting Vegetables in the same pan or another pan

zucchini, sweet potato, fingerling potato, onion, celery, carrots, brussel sprouts are all great. Just use what ever you have.

olive oil, salt, pepper

I always put a butternut squash in too. My kids love it! I just cut it in half, scoop out seeds, olive oil, and place in pan skin side up. that's it!

In about 45 minutes to an hour when chicken is golden, veggies are roasted and butternut squash is soft enough to get a fork through it you have a really nice home cooked meal.

-TIP- if butternut squash is too hard to cut just put it whole in the oven then cut it in half when it is done cooking