Dinner for Two From the Fridge

During Spring Break, all of the kiddos were gone ... Bill and I had been eating leftovers or just snacking on quick items for dinner over the week.  For our last night alone, I thought I'd make a nice candle lit dinner.  Looking in the fridge, I found a bag of spinach, a box of strawberries, some tomatoes and onions, and a ham steak.  I think it ended up as a nice meal.

Here's what I came up with:
Mustard Glazed Ham Steak
Spinach au Gratin
Tomato and Onion Salad
Strawberry "Cheesecake" Trifle
First, I got the Tomato and Onion Salad and Strawberry "Cheesecake" Trifle going, since they had to marinate.

Tomato and Onion Salad

Prep time:  5 min.  Inactive time:  2 hours for marinating

Ingredients

• 2 tomatoes, thinly sliced
• 1 onion, sliced paper thin
• 1/3 of a cucumber, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
• 2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. black pepper
• 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
• 2 Tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped

Directions
Combine all ingredients and allow to sit at room temperature for several hours.
Serves 2. 

Strawberry "Cheesecake" Trifle

Prep time:  5 min  Inactive time:  2 hours for macerating

Ingredients

• 4 large strawberries, sliced
• 1 Tbsp. granulated sugar
• 2 Tbsp. graham cracker crumbs
• 4 Tbsp. cream cheese, softened
• 2 tsp.  powdered sugar

Directions

1. Toss the strawberries with sugar and set aside.  Allow to macerate about 2 hours.
2. Combine cream cheese with powdered sugar.
3. Place 1 Tbsp. graham cracker crumbs in the bottom of a wine glass.  Layer 1/4 of the strawberries and 1/4 of the cream cheese mixture to each glass, followed by the remaining strawberries and cream cheese.  
4. Top with a tiny mint leaf.  Chill until serving.

Serves 2.

Perfect little "cheesecake" in a glass

Mustard Glazed Ham Steak

Prep time:  5 min.  Cook time:  6-8 min.

Ingredients

• 1 (8 oz.) ham steak
• 2 Tbsp. mustard (dijon or yellow)
• 3 Tbsp. brown sugar
• 2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar

Directions

1. Combine mustard, vinegar and brown sugar in a small bowl.
2. Spread mixture over the ham steak and broil in an oven-safe dish for 6-8 minutes, watching closely, until the glaze is bubbling on the surface of the ham steak.  Serve immediately.

Serves 2.

Spinach Au Gratin

Prep time:  5 min.  Cook time: 12 min.

Ingredients

• 1 bag  (10 oz.) spinach, rinsed and dried
• 4 oz. sliced white mushrooms (about half of a small package)
• 1 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1 Tbsp. butter
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 3/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese, divided

Directions 

1. In a large skillet, add the olive oil, butter, and garlic.  
2. Saute on medium-high heat for 1 minute then add the mushrooms and cook for about 5 minutes until the mushrooms are softened.
3. Add the spinach to the pan and cook while stirring just until the spinach is wilted, about 3 minutes.  
4. Turn heat to low and add the cream and 1/2 cup of the Parmesan cheese.  Stir until blended and divide between two oven proof au gratin dishes or large ramekins.  
5. Top with the remaining Parmesan cheese and broil for about 3 minutes, watching closely, until the top is lightly browned. 

Spinach Au Gratin, just before broiling.

Serves 2.