Scalloped Potatoes & Ham

This was on our menu plan last month and a dish I was very much looking forward to.  I hadn't made it in years and it is definitely one of those comfort foods we enjoy.  It uses a white sauce which can be daunting to some cooks.  Hopefully my way of making it will be helpful to those that struggle.  To test it out I had my daughter make it and she had no problem and was quite successful.  Definitely a recipe you should try.

Scalloped Potatoes & Ham

4 large potatoes, scrubbed clean and thinly sliced.

2 cups cubed ham

1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese

3 Tbs. butter

3 Tbs. flour

2 cups milk

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

Cheese is grated and ham is diced ahead of time.

Potatoes sliced and ready.

Having your ingredients lined up and prepared
ahead of time makes the cooking process
go so much easier.

Begin with your white sauce.

Over low heat melt butter, remove from heat and whisk in flour until smooth.  Cook while whisking about a minute.  Remove pan from burner.  Slowly trickle milk into butter and flour mixture whisking constantly as you do this.  Add salt and pepper.  Return pan to burner and bring just to the bubble whisking constantly.  Sauce will begin to thicken.  If it is too thick add a little more milk until it is the consistency of pancake batter.

 

Melt the butter over low heat.

Remove the pan from the heat to add the flour

Whisk until it has all combined

Return to heat.  Continue whisking until it just
begins to boil and thicken.

Add the cheese.
Just keep whisking, just keep whisking.

Turn burner off and add cheese to the sauce whisking until it has all melted and your sauce is smooth.  In a lightly greased 2 quart casserole dish place half of the potatoes and half of the ham.  Pour half of the sauce over top.  Place the remaining potatoes and ham on top of the sauce.  Pour the remaining sauce onto the potatoes and ham.

Half the ham and potato slices placed in a lightly greased casserole.

Ready for the oven.

Cover the dish and place in a 375° oven for 1 to 1 1/2 hours until the potatoes are fork tender.

I serve this with a nice salad or a steamed vegetable as a side.  Delicious!