Thursday, October 20, 2011

Creamy Scalloped Potatoes with Ham


It has been gloomy, windy and chilly here recently with leaves and temperatures falling. Warm, soothing comfort food is definitely needed. 


I've recently seen others share their recipes for scalloped potatoes and ham and this brought back great memories of my mother's ham and scalloped potato recipe and those dinners growing up at home. My mother's recipe, although very good, was a bit bland as many recipes of that era were, so I set off to find a recipe with something just a little different. I found one with a mixture of celery, carrot and green onions that sounded delicious. I decided to substitute leek for the green onions since they were on sale.



My husband and I loved it! Who doesn't love the look a browned and beautiful potato casserole on a cold, wet day?  Yessirree...pure comfort. 


I find slicing potatoes with a good mandoline with hand protector makes easy work out of making scalloped potatoes!


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Creamy Scalloped Potatoes with Ham

Inspired by About Southern Food

Printable Recipe


Note: My recipe includes more vegetables and more sauce than the original recipe and it needed a longer baking time which I shared below.

3 pounds peeled potatoes, thinly sliced with a mandoline or sharp knife, about 6 to 8 cups
5 tablespoons butter or margarine
3/4 cup chopped celery
9 green onions, with 3 inches of green top, or 1 small leek, white and light green part - chopped
3/4 cup chopped carrots
2 cups diced cooked ham - I used 1 pound Boar’s Head ‘Sweet Slice’ ham cut it into 2, ½-inch slices at the deli counter, which I diced into 1/2 pieces
5 tablespoons flour
2-1/2 to 3 cups milk
¾ teaspoon salt
¾ teaspoon pepper
1-1/2 cups shredded white cheddar cheese

In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium low heat. Add celery, green onions, and carrots.  Sauté, stirring frequently, until vegetables are tender then add diced ham. 

Add flour, stirring until well blended. Gradually add 1-1/4 cups milk, stirring constantly. Continue cooking, stirring constantly, until mixture is bubbly. 

Add 1 cup cheese. Cook until cheese is melted; add more milk if mixture is very thick.

In a 2-quart casserole, place a layer of the potatoes, a layer of sauce, then repeat layers. Bake at 325° for approximately 75 to 90 minutes, or until the potatoes are fork tender.

Serves 4 to 6

69 comments:

Marigene said...

Looks delicious, Susan. Scalloped potatoes with ham is one of my comfort foods from childhood...but I very seldom make it.

Rita said...

Last weekend I made scalloped potatoes with a picnic ham; what a feast. I am sure adding the ham to the potatoes are just as good; used to do that for my boys; great picture Susan.
Rita

Federica Simoni said...

Susan questa ricetta è bellissima e chissà che buona!!!!!un abbraccio!!!

Barbara F. said...

Susan, this is comfort food at its best! Mmmmmm xo

Southerncook said...

This looks absolutely delicious and another of your recipes that are a "MUST" to try very soon.

Carolyn/A Southerners Notebook

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Yum! A serving of that would be so good right now. I was out and about today and had to wear a jacket. :(

Anonymous said...

I love your version of scalloped potatoes and ham! It's nice to see other variations. Sounds delicious. It really is the ultimate comfort food. :)

La Table De Nana said...

Same weather here..:( And no electricity this AM..
Oyoyoy.

I love this dish you have presented..I have had ham..I have had scalopped potatoes..never together~
Thank you..
My maman's cooking was biot bland too..but full of love like yours:)

Miss her mac (:) ) and cheese..

and duck..and blueberry pie..and etc..

Gloria Baker said...

this look delicious and what amazing and beauty fall pictures!! gloria

Lynn said...

I'll have one of the above to go please... you do deliver to Philly, right?:@) Looks great and very hearty Susan-enjoy! One of my all time favs would be pot pie with G-Mom-B's crust and cranberry sauce!

trump said...

I apologize for not visiting my favorite blogs lately, and i promise to do some catching-up with everyone in the next few days. We are experiencing cooler weather starting today (Thursday) and as for myself I'm looking forward to falls return to the Lancaster Pennsylvania area. And are the color of the leaves changing your your way folks as they are mine. Hope everyone has a great weekend and enjoy the beautiful fall season that has now begun. Richard from Amish Stories.

GratefulPrayerThankfulHeart said...

Very comforting! I had a few potatoes in the pantry that I didn't want to waste but it was too late. They looked okay but were way past their prime. Your Scalloped potatoes look wonderful.

I made another comfort food for my daughter yesterday ~ Baked Macaroni and cheese. I will post it in a couple of days.

Always fun stopping by to visit with you!

Carol @ There's Always Thyme to Cook said...

I love scalloped potatoes, never had it with ham. Looks delicious and perfect for this cooler weather! Your Autumn mosaic is beautiful.

Vee said...

Hmmm, I know a guy who would love this!

Your mosaic looks so beautifully November. The golden days of October never last long enough, especially when it turns cold and windy. (I do know that it is only 10/20. ;>)

Deana Sidney said...

You have no idea how much I love scalloped potatoes. My mom never got around to telling me her recipe so it's gone forever... this looks great.... can't wait to try it Susan. As usual, beautifully photographed.
ps. I wish you were in NY too.. it would be fun to cook with you!!!

Julie said...

This was a childhood favorite of mine. My mom made this dish! I love these comforting fall and winter foods. Yours looks delicious.

poppilinnstudios said...

Mmmm, perfect for a cool Fall day! I'm always looking for new recipes. Thank you for sharing yours. Can't wait to try it!
-Lynn

Patricia @ ButterYum said...

Hi Susan - I had a feeling that lovely photo on Michael's linky party was yours, and I was right. Stunning as usual. I love your recipe - complete comfort food, for sure! When the weather turns nippy in our home, I make a lot of stews and soups. I don't think I could choose one as a favorite.

Stay warm and fuzzy!!

kitty@ Kitty's Kozy Kitchen said...

All your meals sound wonderful & of course your photos draw me in every time!!

Foley said...

This does look nice, cozy and warm!! One of my favs on a cold day. My brother always called it 'funeral food'!!

Pondside said...

You know, I've never had any success with scalloped potatoes. It's as though I'm jinxed, somehow. I love them and would like to be able to get it right. How hard can it be? I'll give this a try....

Debbie@Mountain Breaths said...

Whenever I think of scalloped potatoes, I think of my sister. For years, she would always offer to bring them for family gatherings and we loved them. Now she brings her delicious cheesecake ;o) I'm glad you found one with a mirepoix (yes very sophisticated). I am such a veggie girl that I could add veggies to my cereal! When I make this, I'll be using leeks since I have two on stand by. Thanks Susan, this sounds like a dish we would enjoy!

Kathleen said...

Beautiful mosaic, Susan! I love the one of the bark. Still very nice and green here. Haven't had a sweater day yet.

I made baked ham and scalloped potatoes last week. I used a recipe , but I didn't care for it. I will try yours, minus the carrots. I usually serve that with baked ham, so I don't want to overdo it on the orange! :)

Have a good weekend. Supposed to be sunny , warm and 70 's. I will take it!

The Blonde Duck said...

I love scalloped potatoes! I heard about the rising PB prices--I am not a happy duckie!

kitchen flavours said...

Looks really delicious! My family would love this, as we all love potatoes! Thanks for sharing, the fall photos are beautiful. Have a great weekend!

Chiara said...

Susan you read my thoughts... on Monday I will publish a similar recipe! have a lovely weekend, a warm hug...

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

It's been cold and rainy here too. This would be perfect for a comfortable meal.
Sam

Food Jaunts said...

Yum! I've actually never had scalloped potatoes and ham before but I did just get a load of potatoes in my CSA and I have some frozen ham in the fridge....definite ly going to need to remember this

Sheila said...

This looks like a delicious meal. I was thinking of making scalloped potatoes tonight but opted for the easy way out. I am trying to use up some ham so maybe tomorrow's supper will look like yours...

Jayanthy Kumaran said...

toooooooo tempting...looks so delicious n dooable..;)
Tasty Appetite

Barbara said...

Love your fall mosaic, Susan. I am so jealous!

After reading your recipe, I'm going to drag MY mother's recipe out and make some changes. I really love ham and scalloped potatoes...especially the top that gets crunchy!

Ocean Breezes and Country Sneezes said...

Wow, this looks great! I know my husband would love it! Thanks for sharing your mom's "jazzed up" recipe!

Mary

chow and chatter said...

lovely comfort food and beautiful pictures

scrambledhenfruit said...

Yes, that would make me feel warm and fuzzy inside, and that's just what I need on chilly night like tonight. Your ham and potato dish looks wonderful- elegant enough for company and comforting enough for a cozy weeknight meal. :)

Unknown said...

Mmm it looks creamy and delish... and an awesome photo too!

~Rainey~ @ The Project table

Von said...

Love your photos of autumn- especially the colours!! I love scalloped potatoes too- but being asian, the only experiences I've really had with them are at buffets- and those don't look nearly as good as your version! I'll definitely have to try making it one day- this looks so delicious!

Lea Ann said...

Man does this look good. I've not made Ham and Scalloped potatoes in years. And now that I have a mandolin in my arsenal you know I'll be making this soon.

Unknown said...

The queen of comfort foods! Susan, this looks devine -- your photos are awesome :)

Blessings!
Gail

Angie's Recipes said...

What a great comfort food for this time of year...windy, and cold!

The Blonde Duck said...

I hope you had a delicious weekend!

Joanne said...

I feel like french makes just about everything sound tres chic. This casserole sounds delicious! Definitely a step up from the blander versions of the past!

Melanie said...

This looks like a great one-dish recipe! Warm potatoes with ham and melted cheese - it can't get any better than that!

Jacqueline said...

I do love the change in weather and the change in our eating. This looks like the perfect comfort food for cold chilly days. We are still having Indian summer and loving it, but it is supposed to change so I better get the tomatoes gathered. Have a great day, build a fire!

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

This looks so comfort food delicious, Susan! I love potatoes and it is nice to have many different ways to prepare them. This dish looks like a complete meal. Yum!

Juliana said...

This potato dish looks delicious, I love it creamy...perfect for this time of the year.
Love the pictures!
Hope you have a great week ahead Susan :-)

Bruce said...

Thanks for this post
Christmas Dinner recipe

Cathy at Wives with Knives said...

I'm SO happy to have your recipe, Susan. My mother prepared a similar dish when I was growing up and hers tended to be a little bland too. It was amazing how far she could stretch a small piece of ham. But we loved it.

Anonymous said...

this sounds like a wonderful recipe - so full of flavor - just delicious. I've just signed up to follow you and looking forward to more wonderful recipes :)
Mary

black eyed susans kitchen said...

Oh yes...this would be a perfect comfort food recipe!! It looks absolutely delicious. Your photo of the leaves on the trees is beautiful!

trump said...

Your right the ham and potato's sure are comfort food. Ham in Lancaster county is a specialty as we are known for our good tasting ham, so i would love to make these recipes that you have posted. Nice job on this post. Richard from Amish Stories.

Pam said...

Yum! I love scalloped potatoes and ham together. Wish I had some of both now!

SavoringTime in the Kitchen said...

Thank you all for visiting and leaving a comment! You have to love fall cooking ;)

tasteofbeirut said...

Cannot think of a better dish for a cold, gloomy and dreary day than that one!

Flavia Galasso said...

I could eat potatoes in any way possible...and this is one of my favourite!!!!

Try the chocolate pumkin pie..it's fantastic even two days after !!!! baci, kisses, Flavia

Ashley@Bakerbynature said...

Just looking at this warms me up a little with childhood memories of my own :) My mother always made great scalloped potatoes, and I am overdue to make some myself very soon.

It's wet and cold here too, but a cup of hot tea will have to do for now.

Bonnie said...

Not for sure how I missed this recipe and post. The collage is absolutely lovely. And a cold dreary day calls for comfort food. Yummy! Bonnie

Rettabug said...

Hi Susan!

I am so anxious to try making this updated version of scalloped potatoes! My DH constantly reminds me of how wonderful his mother's tasted...she tucked pork chops down inside the layers. I've tried & tried to get that similar flavor. I'm hoping YOUR version will shut him up! LOL

Thanks for sharing ALL your wonderful recipes & gorgeous photos. They make me drool!

fondly,
Rett

Tracey M. said...

It's no wonder your blog is so popular - I can't wait to explore it! Found you over at Stonegable ... added this recipe to my menu this week. My husband will LOVE it. He's been asking for scalloped potatoes with ham for a LONG time, since his mom used to make it when he was a child. Thanks for sharing!!

Marysol said...

Susan, the crust on the scalloped potatoes has given me palpitations!
I just don't know whether to make the cheesy crackers or the casserole. But I know I have enough cheese to cover all the bases :)

Marie said...

I'm 78 years young, and this is the only way we ever made scalloped potatoes, we always had ham in them, even when I was a small child my mother would make scalloped potatoes with ham, never had them without the ham. Sometimes I get creative and add some frozen corn to the potatoes and ham, my great-grandson likes that, I've also added some frozen broccoli to it, any way is good, but always put ham in it.

SavoringTime in the Kitchen said...

My mother also made her scalloped potatoes with ham, Marie! She would add onion but never celery or cheese. A very simple but delicious memory of home :) Thanks for the comment!

prissanna said...

Shared with my readers and pointed them here for directions. Thanks for the recipe. http://collectorofrecipes.com/?p=2172

Jane said...

Would love to know the nutritional analysis of this, it sounds delicious. I suspect if you have to ask for the nutritional you “can’t afford it”.

SavoringTime in the Kitchen said...

Thank you, Prissanna!

SavoringTime in the Kitchen said...

Thanks for the question! That would certainly depend on the portion size. I would think if this were divided into 12 servings, each would be approximately 300 calories. That's just a best guess from online nutrition calculators. Using skim milk and reduced fat cheese could help bring that number down.

Unknown said...

Growing up, we rarely had ham or other meats in our home. It was usually chicken ( because chicken was very inexpensive back then) we mostly had scalloped potatoes without ham and it was quite bland as other have stated.maybe once or twice a year we would have ham, when Mom would make them with that little bit of ham they were so much better!. Thanks for bringing back those memories. I will be making these potatoes once the weather cools down here (Utah). Im not ready to turn on the oven yet!

SavoringTime in the Kitchen said...

This dish reminds me of my mother too :) Thanks so much for your comment!

Unknown said...

Could I substitute evaporated milk for the milk???

SavoringTime in the Kitchen said...

Good question! I don't see any problem using evaporated milk. It may make the dish slightly sweeter than you would like so I would mix the evaporated an equal part of water before adding to the recipe. I hope you let me know how it turns out!