The popular holiday ingredients of ham and apple cider go from good to great with a little transformation.

It seems a common Thanksgiving Day ritual is to pack yourself with a feast, then pack the refrigerator with leftovers for days to come.

The elephant in my refrigerator this year was ham. That happens when you buy a whole 12-pounder for nine people who also have their pick of a smoked turkey. A good chunk of the pork was frozen for later use with beans and soups, but a couple of pounds went into the refrigerator for leftovers.

After a meal or two of ham slices in a leftover dinner roll or between two pieces of bread, the plentiful pork is a boring dinner option. But ham that is chopped, dressed with condiments and spiced with a few seasonings is as exciting as the children’s favorite indulgent aunt who breaks all their parents’ rules.

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The following recipe for ham salad is good with crackers or a bed of mixed greens.

Easy Spiced Apple Cider

A cup of hot Spiced Apple Cider is like a one-two punch of the holidays, with its appealing aroma and sweet flavor.

Many simple online recipes for the drink call for more parts orange juice than apple cider. I find that the cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg are more forward with an equal amount of both beverages.

For simplicity’s sake, I put the spices in the saucepan and scoop them out before serving. They also can be bundled inside cheesecloth for less chance of a clove slipping into a serving cup.


Ham Salad


2 cups ham, chopped fine

1 cup celery, diced

1/4 cup onion, diced

1/4 cup pickle relish (sweet or sweet and spicy)

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1/4 teaspoon dried dill

Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Salt to taste


1. Please ham in a food processor and pulse 3 or 4 times.

2. Add remaining ingredients and pulse 4 or 5 times, or until smooth. Taste and adjust seasonings. Serve ham salad on a bed of greens, with crackers or in a sandwich. Yields about 4 servings.  

NOTE: For a chunkier salad, mix the ingredients in a medium bowl instead of a food processor.

Spiced Apple Cider


2 cups orange juice

2 cups apple cider

1 cinnamon stick

2-4 cloves

1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg


1. In a medium saucepan, combine the ingredients and warm over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Just as the ingredients come to a bowl, reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer about 10 minutes.

2. Remove the cinnamon stick and cloves before serving. Yields 4 servings.


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