Tender peas finish fast in cream with ham, a stovetop supper that asks nothing of you but a can opener. The shelf here is lean, so we build a quick main from pantry staples and whatever ham you have on hand, served over buttered toast for body.

Serves 2. 15 minutes, 10 at the stove.

About 850 calories a serving, 25 g protein, 40 g carbohydrate, 67 g fat. From USDA figures for 86% of the ingredients; amounts are the recipe's.

Cook mode

1. Heat 3 tablespoons of butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in 1 tablespoon of flour and stir until it forms a paste, about 1 minute, watching so it does not brown.1 min
2. Pour in 1 cup of heavy cream slowly while whisking to smooth out lumps. Cook and stir until the sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 3 to 4 minutes. Taste and add 1/4 teaspoon of salt and 1/8 teaspoon of pepper.4 min
3. Drain the peas and stir them into the cream along with 4 oz of diced ham. Warm through on medium heat for 1 minute, stirring gently, until the peas are heated and the ham is warm.1 min
4. While the peas warm, toast 4 slices of bread until golden and crisp, about 2 to 3 minutes depending on your toaster.3 min
5. Butter the toast lightly if desired. Spoon the creamed peas and ham over each plate of toast and serve at once.

Note Swap deli ham for bacon pieces or smoked salmon if you prefer. Leftovers keep refrigerated for one day; rewarm gently in a pan with a splash of water or cream to loosen the sauce. Serve alone as a light supper or alongside a green salad for more greens.