Peas and Thank You: HoneyBaked Ham & Black-Eyed Pea Soup with Greens

You’ll find most people throughout the south (and among our HoneyBaked Ham Douglasville crew) eating black-eyed peas and greens on New Year’s Day, but do you know why?! 

Have you ever heard of the old saying, “Eat poor on New Year's, and eat fat the rest of the year?”

Eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s has been considered good luck for more than 1,500 years. It's also been a Jewish custom to eat these particular legumes in celebration of Rosh Hashanah, which is the Jewish New Year. These fiber-packed peas also symbolize humility and a lack of vanity (who knew?!). 

Obviously, most people associate good luck with monetary gain...where is where eating greens with your black-eyed peas comes in! The most common veggies to mix with your good luck beans are:
- turnip greens
- mustard greens
- collard greens (these are our fave)

Pork is a staple of just about every Southern meal, so it’s usually cooked with the black-eyed peas. The pork (especially when you use our delicious HoneyBaked Ham ) seems to be in recipes mainly for flavor rather than symbolism... but many people believe that because pigs root forward when foraging, the pork represents positive motion.

Enjoy this delicious HoneyBaked Ham & Black-Eyed Pea Soup with Greens this New Year's Day:

In a 4 quart saucepan heat and cook until tender:
 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
 - 1 medium onion
 - 1 garlic clove

Add:
 - 1/2 pound collard greens (stems removed and leaves finely    
  chopped)
 - 2 cups of low-sodium chicken stock
 - 2 cups water
 - 1 small, finely minced jalapeño pepper (optional)
 - 1 small knuckle from a HoneyBaked Ham bone,
   with the meat removed from the bone (approx. 3/4 to 1 cup)

Simmer until greens are tender (about 20 minutes).

Meanwhile, rinse and drain:
 - a 16 oz. can of black-eyed peas (or about 1 1/2 cups frozen and thawed). Mash half of them with the back of a spoon and add all to the soup mixture.

Add:
-1 medium tomato, diced

Simmer for 5 more minutes. Season with salt and pepper

Stir in:
 - 1 teaspoon cider vinegar
 - a dash of hot sauce (optional)

Serve & enjoy (serves 2) your HoneyBaked Ham & Black-Eyed Pea Soup with Greens.

Here's to good luck and great fortune in 2017! --Your HoneyBaked Ham Douglasville Crew

Ho Ho Ho-M-G! 4 HoneyBaked Desserts Santa Will Love More Than Milk & Cookies

Sure, it may be tradition to leave the classic treat of milk & cookies out for Santa this year, but why not "wow" him with something different this holiday... with a gourmet dessert from HoneyBaked Ham Douglasville ?!

Here are our 4 most popular decadent delights as suggestions for replacing those "baked goods" with "baked perfection" instead:

1. HoneyBaked Carrot Cake
Mom always said to "eat your veggies..." and carrot cake counts as part of your daily consumption of vegetables, right?! If not, that's okay. Santa will love this soft & moist piece of heaven on earth (our entire crew loves this particular dessert)!

2. HoneyBaked Pecan Pie
This is a delicious down-home dessert that makes any marvelous meal that much more special... so it's sure to make jolly ol' St. Nick's trip down the chimney totally worth it! Our Pecan Pie is ideal for nut lovers of all ages (in case Santa leaves any leftovers for your family to enjoy, that is).

3. HoneyBaked Cheesecake Sampler
Say "Cheese...(cake)!" No need to hit up that overpriced dessert factory to serve up something smoother & silkier than milk & cookies... Our HoneyBaked Cheesecake Sampler is comprised of a four udderly perfect flavors for Santa to savor: vanilla, hot fudge, strawberry and turtle!

4. HoneyBaked Pumpkin Pecan Pie
What do you get when you cross a terrific Thanksgiving staple with a delectable, down-home favorite? Our HoneyBaked Pumpkin Pecan Pie, of course! This treat is so wonderful it's sure to knock Mr. Claus's socks off... and the soot all over his bright red outfit too!

 For directions to our store CLICK HERE or if you already know where to find us, stop by and pick up a yummy dessert TODAY!
--Your HoneyBaked Ham Douglasville Crew

The Right Way to Do Leftovers: HoneyBaked Ham & Turkey Pot Pies

Now that Thanksgiving has come on gone, you're probably thinking, "What am I going to do with all these leftovers?"

Don't worry, HoneyBaked Ham Douglasville has got you covered with this tasty recipe for Ham & Turkey Pot Pies!

In a Dutch oven, bring to boil and simmer:

-3 cups canned low-salt chicken broth
- 1 small celery root, trimmed and diced into 1/2 inch chunks (or 5 ribs of celery plus tops, sliced)

- 3 new potatoes, diced

Cook 7 minutes and add:

- 2 carrots, diced

Simmer until tender (about 10 minutes). Drain, reserving broth for another use. Set aside vegetables for later.

In a heavy saucepan sauté:

- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup chopped onion

Add:

- 5 tablespoons all purpose flour

Stir 2 minutes until bubbly and gradually add:

- 1 cup reserved broth
- 1 1/2 cups milk (do not use nonfat or low-fat)

Cook, stirring about 4 minutes until sauce thickens. Season with salt & pepper and add:

- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
- 1 cup sliced HoneyBaked Ham
- 1 cup diced HoneyBaked Turkey Breast

- reserved celery root, potato and carrot (frozen peas may also be added)

Heat until bubbly. Divide mixture into 6 individual casseroles and top each with:

- A refrigerator biscuit (from a package of 6) that has been cut into quarters and placed on top in a flower shape (kitchen shears work well for this)

In a preheated oven 450°F. place pies on large baking sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until biscuits are lightly browned. Serve & enjoy (serves 6) your HoneyBaked Ham & Turkey Pot Pies!
--Your HoneyBaked Ham Douglasville Crew

HoneyBaked Ham Douglasville & The Origin of Thanksgiving

Did you know the first American Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1621 to commemorate the harvest reap by the Plymouth Colony after a harsh winter in the north east?!

That's right-- It was during that year Governor William Bradford proclaimed that particular date as a Day of Thanksgiving. 

Originally, colonists celebrated this Day of Thanksgiving with their traditional English Harvest Feast, and invited the local Wampanoag Indians to join them in their festivities.

By the mid-1800s, many states across the U.S. began to observe this Thanksgiving holiday (although it was not yet recognized nationwide). 

But in 1939, 1940 and 1941 Franklin D. Roosevelt (seeking to lengthen the Christmas shopping season) declared Thanksgiving an official national holiday each 3rd Thursday in November. 

Later on during the year of 1941, however, our famous day of giving thanks was moved to the 4th Thursday of every November, where it remains to this day.

It is believed turkey was the main course at the Thanksgiving feast during the very first Harvest Festival, which is why it's been adopted through time as a staple for Thanksgiving dinners across the nation.

And although turkey was the centerpiece of the table for many centuries of Thanksgiving celebrations, ham made its way to our gatherings as an alternative main dish (mainly to offer as a variety). 

Today Honey Baked Ham has been the traditional ham of choice since 1957 for many of our holiday traditions because aside from its succulent flavors, it's also

- slow smoked 
- always moist and tender
- cooked to perfection every time
- spiral-sliced for easy serving, no matter the special occasion 

Drop by our HoneyBaked Ham Douglasville store before Turkey Day approaches and be sure to grab a variety of our Thanksgiving and holiday traditional foods such as:

- whole HoneyBaked Turkey 
- our famous (and family favorite) HoneyBaked Ham
- Beef Brisket
- Barbecue Pork Ribs
- Pork Roast
- our variety of casseroles accompany your main course(s)
- any (or all!) of our delicious, thaw & serve dessert delights 

For more details about our gourmet products CLICK HERE
now or stop by and visit us today.

Here's to a festive Thanksgiving feast from our family to yours!
--Your HoneyBaked Ham Douglasville Crew

All Treats, No Tricks: HoneyBaked Ham Douglasville 's Top Halloween Heat & Serve Dishes

The cool air alone can make you feel, see and definitely tell that Halloween season is officially upon us... and for many of us that means a myriad of costume parties, fall festivities at schools or local churches and lots of other ghoulish gatherings throughout the community.

If YOU have one of these types of events coming up... why not make it a lot more fun by preparing or bringing something that can be enjoyed by the whole gang?!

At HoneyBaked Ham Douglasville we're always here to serve you with the greatest gourmet goodies for all kinds of occasions. 

Aside from our famous HoneyBaked Ham  (the classic main course we always have at our dinner tables during the holidays), we also feature a variety of:


- boxed lunches for office meetings
- catering platters (with FREE delivery for orders of $100 or more!)
- heat & serve dishes
- specialty sandwiches to enjoy during your lunch hour

For Halloween gatherings, however, we have several meat entrees available for your enjoyment, such as:

1. Mini Ham
Our Mini Hams feature the usual, delicious and freshly made bone-in, spiral-sliced, glazed holiday favorite. These smaller versions come in 3.5 to 6 lb. hams and can serve up to 5 people. Oh and did we mention... you can also order these in boneless portions!

2. HoneyBaked Turkey
Our big ol' HoneyBaked birds are another great classic for festivities of any kind. This particular main course meat can serve a big group of people, especially since they're 11 to 13 lbs. in weight (or bigger!). Order yours smoked, cajun whole smoked, as a boneless breast, a roasted turkey breast or even by the slice!

3. BBQ
Our Baby Back Ribs are available in sizes up to 2 lbs., which serves up to 3 people per dish. If you're looking for something larger, however, our BBQ Pork Roast serving caters to nearly 12 people, and our Beef Pot Roast is also available to serve up to 8 ravenous dinner attendees!Don't forget about our Heat & Serve Sides too...These are always in stock for any occasion, and they're the perfect addition to any potluck party this fall:

- Au Gratin Potatoes
- Green Bean Casserole
- Macaroni & Cheese
- Sweet Potato Souffle
- Broccoli & Rice Casserole
- Cinnamon Apples

Sound yummy enough but need just a few more details? CLICK HERE to learn more or stop by and visit us TODAY so we can help you make your upcoming Halloween celebrations a big success.

Here's to rising to the occasion in a very spook-tacular way!
--Your HoneyBaked Ham Douglasville Crew

Going, Going Tarra-GONE! HoneyBaked Ham & Potato Salad with Tarragon

Hosting guests for the game this weekend? Then serve up something you're sure will be a win-win at your big buffet this Sunday... something that has our famous HoneyBaked Ham in it, of course!

Here's an easy potato salad & tarragon recipe from our HoneyBaked Ham Douglasville crew that will perk up just about any pre-game picnic or Game Day get together in a snap:

HoneyBaked Ham & Potato Salad with Tarragon

Boil in salted water until tender (about 20 minutes): 
- 1 lb. of medium sized red skin potatoes

Drain and cool to lukewarm. Slice potatoes into 1/2 inch thick slices and place in a large bowl.

Drizzle over potatoes:
- 1 tablespoon tarragon 
- splash of white wine vinegar

Then add to bowl:
- 5 to 6 stalks thinly sliced celery
- 2 tablespoons capers
- 3/4 cup HoneyBaked Ham, cut into strips
- 6 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon

Toss gently to mix and season with additional salt & pepper. Serve and enjoy (makes 4 servings).

Here's to eats so good, they're (tarra) gone!
--Your HoneyBaked Ham Douglasville Crew

Need more Game Day goodies for your gathering? CLICK HERE to view our catering menu of party platters & delicious desserts!

Lunch with Class (Literally): 5 Reasons Why HoneyBaked Ham Catering is Perfect for Teachers

"Is it lunchtime yet? I’m starving!"
Yes, this phrase is all too familiar isn't it? It's not only something we hear our friends ask, teachers wonder the same thing too!

With classes back in full swing, it's quite apparent that our educators are most loyal to the school as well as our students... so much so that teachers oftentimes forget about their own appetites! 

For the most part, faculty members unfortunately can't drive off somewhere to take a lunch break, which is why gourmet catering from HoneyBaked Ham Douglasville that's delivered right to your break room can help maintain that high-spirited morale during the most hectic time of day (or even any day of the week, while classes are in session as usual). 

Here are 5 reasons why teachers should take advantage of
HoneyBaked Ham Douglasville catering for lunch:

1. Everyone knows lunches from our school cafeterias can sometimes be as palatable as eating hospital food. The meal options can be bland in flavor, funny in smell and just plain terrible in taste. The fiyou deserve a wonderful lunch to go with the hard work you are putting in.

2. In most cases, leaving school grounds for lunch is prohibited for teachers.
As administrators of our young scholars, most teachers have the responsibility of being present where students are at all times, which means they can’t just leave for a lunch break (unlike those of us who work from a typical corporate office setting). The good news is HoneyBaked Ham Douglasville will deliver within a 15-mile radius for FREE (for orders of $100 or more). Isn’t that wonderful?!

3. A teacher's job doesn't just stop when classes are dismissed for the day.
Work can continue on till the wee hours of the evening at home (grading test papers, revising curriculums) and just didn’t have that time to prepare a brown bagger lunch for the following day. Good to know that HoneyBaked Ham is right around the corner to take care of that part.

4. Even teachers need (and deserve) a "refresher course," just in a different kind of way.
Not only does HoneyBaked Ham Douglasville have a myriad of delicious, low-calorie lunch portions available, ALL Douglasville educators receive a FREE gallon of refreshing iced tea (your choice of Southern-style sweet or unsweetened) with each of catered lunch order.Now that's what we call a refresher course, especially when it comes to our beloved professors!

5. Catered lunch delivery rates well on our local instructors' "rapport cards."
Heading back to the classroom means many new faces for our school staff, including the newest colleagues. A catered lunch from HoneyBaked Ham Douglasville provides the perfect opportunity to bring all these new faces together to build camaraderie among the faculty, especially since everyone will be dropping by the teacher’s lounge for their much-needed mid-day breaks anyway!

Everyone knows how wonderful and fulfilling a HoneyBaked Ham can be during the holidays... but it can also be enjoyed throughout the school year by teachers, parents and students alike.

Stop in at HoneyBaked Ham Douglasville TODAY or CLICK HERE to place your next catered order.

Here's to enjoying lunch with class!
--Your HoneyBaked Ham Douglasville Crew

Sliding into home! HoneyBaked Ham Douglasville's Ham & Swiss Sliders

These melt in your mouth mini sandwiches are topped with a buttery mustard sauce and baked to a golden brown. They're great for weeknight meals, potlucks and parties. 

Enjoy this crowd pleasing recipe from our HoneyBaked Ham Douglasville crew for tasty Ham & Swiss Sliders!

Ham & Swiss Sliders 

Ingredients
- 2 -12 packages of sweet hawaiian rolls
- 1 1⁄2 lbs of HoneyBaked Ham 
- 12 slices swiss cheese
- 3⁄4 cup butter
- 1 1⁄2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1 1⁄2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 1⁄2 teaspoons dried onion
- poppy seed

Directions
1. Place the bottoms of 12 rolls in each pan. 

2. Place ham on the rolls. Cut the cheese slices into 4 parts and place 2 small pieces on each sandwich. 

3. Put the dinner roll tops on. In a sauce pan, mix butter, dijon mustard, worcestershire sauce, and dried onions. 

4. Wait until all butter is melted and then pour the melted mixture over the ham sandwiches 

5. Sprinkle the buns with poppy seeds and cover with foil. Let refrigerate overnight.

6. Preheat oven to 350 and uncover sandwiches. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes and serve. Great hot or even at room temperature 

For more delicious recipes from your HoneyBaked Ham Douglasville Crew, CLICK HERE.

Heres to enjoying life one meal at a time! 
-- Your HoneyBaked Ham Douglasville Crew

Just Peachy! HoneyBaked Ham Douglasville 's Ham & Peach Panini

August is National Peach Month, so our HoneyBaked Ham Douglasville crew wants you to honor and enjoy the great flavor of juicy Georgia peaches. You can eat them right off the tree, sliced in cream, peach cobbler or you can make this delicious dish in the comfort of your own home!

HoneyBaked Ham & Peach Panini

Ingredients
- 8 ciabatta bread slices
- 4 teaspoons coarse-grained Dijon mustard
- freshly ground pepper
- 4 (1 oz.) fontina cheese slices
- 4 oz. thinly sliced HoneyBaked Ham
- 2 medium peaches (about 3/4 lb.), unpeeled and sliced 
- 4 teaspoons honey (optional)
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

Directions
1. Spread each of 4 bread slices with 1 tsp. mustard and sprinkle with desired amount of freshly ground pepper. Layer with cheese, ham, peaches and, if desired, honey. Top with remaining bread slices, and press together gently. Brush sandwiches with olive oil.

2. Cook sandwiches in batches in a preheated panini press 3 to 4 minutes or until golden brown and cheese is melted (or use a preheated nonstick grill pan and cook sandwiches over medium heat, 3 to 4 minutes on each side). Serve immediately.

At HoneyBaked Ham Douglasville we believe in "celebrating life, one meal at a time." That's why every HoneyBaked Ham is fully cooked & ready to serve, so you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time with family. CLICK HERE to see our catering menu. 

Here's to a peachy meal your whole family will love! 
--Your HoneyBaked Ham Douglasville Crew

Think Outside the Bun: 4 HoneyBaked Alternatives to Burgers & Dogs for July 4th

Independence Day is right around the corner... Are you ready to go out with a bang?!

Rather than serving up traditional burgers & hot dogs for July 4th this year, think outside the bun for a change (and by that we mean, with your favorite picnic staples from HoneyBaked Ham Douglasville )!

Since there's no actual written rule that says you absolutely must have burgers, hot dogs, chicken or sausage links when you fire up that grill this holiday... this is a great time for you to try something different on the "barbie." 

Here are a few of our favorite items we think would be perfect for your patriotic gathering: 

1. Complete Mini Ham Brunch. This all-inclusive meal package is specially made for the holidays and comes with the sweet, tantalizing aroma for FREE! Includes our classic HoneyBaked Ham, thick-cut peppered bacon and golden brown pancakes to draw everyone to the table for a delicious 4th of July mid-morning feast.

2. HoneyBaked Ham Trio. This 3-item gourmet combo is ideal for foodies as well as those who may not have time to cook before your get-together. Trio includes a sweet & succulent spread of HoneyBaked Ham and two of our signature sides-- Sweet Potato Soufflé and Green Bean Casserole.

3. Barbecue Pork Ribs.They're an old fashioned favorite! Our fully-cooked Barbecue Pork Ribs are tangy and fall-off-the-bone tender... Be sure to have plenty of napkins handy for this entree!

4. Rack of Pork Loin Chops. Our subtly smoked, juicy portions of Pork Loin Chops are a uniquely delicious centerpiece to add flair to your red, white & blue-themed affair. Did we mention they're hassle-free too? All you do is heat, serve & enjoy!

When you come by our HoneyBaked Ham Douglasville store to pick up one or more of these suggested items, don’t forget a dessert on your way out... Here are some of our top-selling sweet treats:

- Blueberry Coffee Cake
- Cheesecake Sampler
- Cinnamon Walnut Cake
- Gourmet Brownies
- Triple Chocolate Cake

So there you have it... A list of gourmet picnic staples ALL your friends & family can enjoy at this upcoming July 4th. Stop by and see us TODAY or call us to reserve your special order.

Here's to thinking outside the bun this Independence Day!
--Your HoneyBaked Ham Douglasville Crew

Curry On Over! HoneyBaked Ham Douglasville 's Leftover Turkey Curry

In honor of National Turkey Lovers' Month, our HoneyBaked Ham Douglasville crew has the perfect recipe for you using leftover HoneyBaked Turkey Breast!

HoneyBaked Turkey Curry

Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion, thinly sliced (6oz)
- 2 large carrots, diced (6oz)
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- ¾ cup frozen peas (3oz)
- 1 tablespoon curry powder
- 1 teaspoon coriander
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 cups HoneyBaked Turkey Breast, cut into chunks
- 2 cups chicken broth 
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon honey


Directions
1. Heat olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat, about 2 minutes. Add the onions and the carrots. Cook, stirring often, 5 minutes. Add the garlic and the peas. Cook, stirring, 1 more minute. Add the curry powder, coriander, turmeric and cinnamon, and cook, stirring, 30 seconds. Add the turkey and stir well to coat.

2. In a 1-quart measuring cup, whisk together the chicken broth, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper and honey. Add to the skillet. Bring to a boil, then turn heat down to medium-low and simmer 20 minutes, until carrots are just tender.

3. Serve this delicious turkey curry over cooked rice and enjoy!

Curry on over and pick up a mouth-watering HoneyBaked Turkey Breast TODAY! 
-- Your HoneyBaked Ham Douglasville Crew

HoneyBaked Ham Douglasville's Red, White & Blue Potato Salad

This festive potato salad recipe from our HoneyBaked Ham Douglasville crew will be a definite crowd pleaser for your upcoming Memorial Day get-together! The great thing about potato salad is that it goes with just about anything, like our world famous HoneyBaked Ham or BBQ Ribs.

Red, White & Blue Potato Salad

Ingredients
-2 lbs. assorted small red, white and blue potatoes cut in half
-1 large red bell pepper, diced
-½ red onion, thinly sliced
-4 scallions, sliced
-hand full each of parsley and chives, chopped
-zest of 2 lemons
-lemon and olive oil dressing

Directions
1. Coat potatoes with olive oil, salt and pepper and roast at 425 F. until fork tender.

2. Roast the chopped red pepper at same temp in a separate pan while potatoes are roasting, until tender.

3. When potatoes and peppers are done, toss into a bowl and add the rest of the ingredients, parsley, chives, scallions, red onion and zest, toss well and season with salt and pepper.

4. Prepare the lemon and olive oil dressing. Start with fresh squeezed lemon juice, about 3 tablespoons, a small smashed garlic clove, whisk in good olive oil, salt and pepper. 

Here's to a safe Memorial Day!
-- Your HoneyBaked Ham Douglasville Crew

3's Company: 3 Upcoming Occasions Perfect for Serving HoneyBaked Ham Platters

The holidays may be over, but that doesn't mean the festivities are as well (at least they aren't for our HoneyBaked Ham Douglasville crew).

As a matter of fact, there are a ton of upcoming holidays and special reasons to get together and celebrate with friends and/or loved ones.

Here are just 3 special occasions which would be perfect for serving up our HoneyBaked Ham platters to the company you'll be keeping:


1. The 2016 Championship Game

The 2016 College Football National Championship features the Alabama Crimson Tide against the Clemson Tigers. Stock up on your favorite beverages, order a HoneyBaked Ham platter and invite your football buddies over for a cozier tailgating celebration at your humble abode!


2. MLK Day
Not only is this a federal holiday each third week in January...lots of times it's also a day off from work or a school-free day for the kiddos. Why not create your own MLK Day luncheon at home with a HoneyBaked Ham platter and some creamy hot chocolate (it's usually cold on this holiday, isn't it?!).

3. National Nothing Day
Yes, National Nothing Day is a real holiday, and it's been recognized on January 16th of each year since 1973! What does it mean? Well, maybe nothing... but what a wonderful reason to celebrate a holiday in January, right?! Invite close family over for dinner one evening and serve up a bountiful buffet with a HoneyBaked Ham platter, a couple of our gourmet sides and of course... one of our delicious desserts. Before you know it, National Nothing Day could soon become a pretty big deal among you and your loved ones!

Stop by and place your order for a HoneyBaked Ham platter TODAY or click here to view more of our available options.

Here's to even more celebrations and fun in 2016!
--Your HoneyBaked Ham Douglasville Crew