Cheesy Gnocchi Skillet with Ham and Peas

We lie to our son. 

Yep. LIE. 

He's going to grow up thinking his yogurt is "mickey mouse ice cream" and that Ryan's instant breakfasts in the morning are "chocolate juice." His medicine is "candy juice" (I'm sure we'll have to call poison control over that one someday, yikes). My biggest lie to him last week was when I made a dish with beef polska kielbasa and veggie rotini pasta with green pepper cream sauce and called it "macaroni and cheese with hot dogs". Everything is "chicken" even if I'm serving him pork tenderloin. Even a can of spaghettios are "circle noodles". 

Why do I do this? Well, my friends, with an extremely picky eater on our hands, sometimes I take drastic measures to get him to eat anything. And for the record, he polishes off his plate when I do. 

 - - - - 

Ham and peas just go together so perfectly - and placed on a bed of decadent swiss and mini gnocchi? 

It was perfection. 

I love one-pot-wonders. The casserole has such a lovely way of tasting just like home, and warming the soul (not to mention filling everyone's bellies right up!) This skillet-casserole was super easy. At first I was really worried about the Swiss cheese. We're not really a fan, but I like to try out new flavors than our usual provolone/mozzarella/pamesan/cheddar/pepperjack flavors. Swiss tastes a little sour to me, but MAN does it pair so perfectly with the flavors in this recipe. It had a really fun way of making everything creamy - and the mini-gnoochi? - the best part of the whole thing. 

xo, 

blondie

Cheesy Gnocchi Skillet with Ham and Peas
4 servings

ingredients:
1 T unsalted butter
1 onion, chopped
8oz thick sliced deli ham, diced
1/2 t chopped fresh thyme
1/2 C low-sodium chicken broth
17oz package mini potato gnocchi
1 C frozen peas, thawed
1/4 C heavy cream
kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1 C shredded swiss

method:
1. Preheat broiler on high.
2. In your large oven-proof skillet, melt butter over medium high heat. Add onions and cook until softened. Add the ham and thyme and continue to cook until ham is slightly browned.
3. Add the chicken broth and 3/4 C water and bring to a simmer. Add the gnocchi, stir, and then cover and cook until gnocchi is tender (about 5 minutes).
4. Remove from the heat, add peas and cream, salt and pepper. Sprinkle everything with cheese and place in the oven uncovered. Broil until top becomes golden and bubbly - about 3 minutes. Serve hot.

recipe source: food network