Easter Ham Inspirations

(Family Features) Enjoy an inspired Easter feast with ham plus seasonal favorites that will impress your guests. The savory flavors of Roasted Ham Saltimbocca showcase ham's versatility in this succulent centerpiece dish.

Here are three tasty ways to enjoy fresh spring veggies such as asparagus:Wendy MacDonald wmacdonald@familyfeatures.com 1-888-824-3337 ext. 235 http://editors.familyfeatures.comCured Ham and Asparagus Pizza Serves 4 Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 30 minutesSubstitutions: You can use bone-in or boneless ham and substitute dried sage (about 1 1/2 tablespoons) instead of fresh.Preheat oven to 325°F. Position rack in lower third of oven.

Place ham flat side down in a large shallow roasting pan and score a diamond pattern about 1/8 inch deep into any fat. Sprinkle all over with 2 tablespoons sage and season with pepper. Bake until internal temperature reaches 140°F, 15 to 18 minutes per pound total cooking time. After the first hour, baste with pan juices about every 15 minutes. Remove ham from the oven, transfer to a cutting board, and let rest 15 to 30 minutes.Snap off and discard woody portions of asparagus. Cut into 1-inch pieces.

Melt butter in skillet over medium heat. Add onion and asparagus. Cook and stir for 5 to 7 minutes or until vegetables are almost tender. Stir in sherry. Cook and stir for 2 minutes more. Set aside.For recipes, tools to help you prepare and carve the perfect ham, and more ideas to prepare hassle-free leftovers, visit www.PorkBeinspired.com or www.Facebook.com/PorkBeinspired . Follow the National Pork Board on www.Twitter.com/AllAboutPork for a chance to win a free Easter ham.Heat oven to 425°F. Grease a 12- or 13-inch pizza pan. Sprinkle with cornmeal. Pat pizza dough into pan, rounding corners of dough rectangle to fit pan and building up edges. If desired, snip edges with kitchen shears. Bake about 7 minutes or until lightly browned.Prepare gnocchi or rotini according to package directions.Spread crust with Alfredo sauce. Top with vegetable mixture and ham. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes more or until golden. Let stand 5 minutes before cutting and serving.Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=1578534Carve ham and arrange on plates or a platter. Crumble prosciutto on top. Serve sauce on the side.Roasted Ham Saltimbocca Yield: 15 to 20 4-ounce servings Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: About 2 3/4 hoursPork's Perfect PartnerAsparagus Pesto with Gnocchi and Ham Serves 4 Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 20 minutesAnd when Easter dinner is over, bring some new life to leftovers with meals that are sure to become new family favorites. In addition to ham sandwiches, dish up a lively Asparagus Pesto with Gnocchi and Ham or a Cured Ham and Asparagus Pizza. Asparagus not a favorite? These versatile ham recipes allow you to substitute any cooked veggies spring has to offer.Also while ham is resting, drain roasting pan, discarding liquid. Place pan on stovetop over medium-high heat. Add broth and wine; bring to a boil, and cook, scraping up any browned bits in the pan, until liquid is reduced to 1 1/2 cups, about 4 minutes depending on the size of the pan. Reduce to a simmer and add butter and remaining 2 tablespoons sage, stirring until butter melts. Whisk in flour mixture and cook, whisking, until sauce thickens, 30 to 60 seconds. Remove from the heat. Season with salt and pepper.Sautéed - Add a little zest and crunch to your plate with asparagus sautéed in soy sauce until stalks are easily pierced with fork (3 to 5 minutes). Serve as a side dish over rice. Grilled - Climate permitting, fire up the grill and cook olive oil-tossed spears for 2 minutes for slightly charred asparagus. Kick it up a notch by drizzling with balsamic vinaigrette. Roasted - Try drizzling on olive oil and adding a few pinches of salt and pepper before roasting your favorite veggies. Toss into a 400°F oven, and roast for roughly 12 to 17 minutes.Snap off and discard woody portions of asparagus. Cut into 1-inch pieces. Cook asparagus in a small amount of boiling water about 5 minutes or until tender. Drain and cool.

For pesto, in a food processor or blender, combine asparagus, basil, cheese, walnuts, olive oil, water, garlic and pepper. Cover and process or blend until nearly smooth, scraping sides occasionally. Divide pesto into thirds. Transfer 2 portions to freezer containers. Freeze for up to 3 months. Set aside remaining portion.Add to Digg Bookmark with del.icio.us Add to NewsvineWhile ham is resting, increase oven to 400°F. Arrange prosciutto on a baking sheet and bake until crisped, about 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.

Wendy MacDonald wmacdonald@familyfeatures.com 1-888-824-3337 ext. 235 http://editors.familyfeatures.com