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Welcome to Simple Fare, Fairly Simple. This is a place for me to post recipes of all kinds...along with other miscellaneous fodder from my so-called life here in the south. Who knows what you will find here. Could be anything from my husband...known as IT Guy...to my kids and beautiful grandbabies that are growing up way too fast right before my eyes. But...mostly this will be a place for food. I hope you'll see something you like and if you decide to try something from the list...leave me a comment and let me know!



Friday, March 4, 2011

I was looking through recipes the other day when I ran across something that caught my eye. Ham? Potatoes? Cheese? Yes, please. I knew immediately when I saw it that I could fix it up to suit our tastes and post here with no regrets. And I was right. This casserole is so stinkin' good...we practically inhaled it. There was just a little bit leftover and it went fast, as well. I think I ate the last of it yesterday. Usually I leave the leftovers for the men in the family...but not this time!! I ate it and enjoyed every bite and did not feel one bit guilty. If you're a lover of anything cheesy, potatoey, or creamy....you must  make this!!


Creamy Cheesy Ham 
& Potato Casserole



4 cups cooked diced potatoes
2 cups diced cooked ham
½ cup diced green bell pepper
¼ cup diced pimentos
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
1 ½ cups heavy cream
1 ½ cups shredded cheese
½ teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Dice potatoes into bite-sized chunks and cook until just tender. Combine potatoes, diced ham, pepper and pimento in a large bowl.

In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add flour and cook until smooth and bubbly. Gradually add cream. Cook, stirring constantly until thick. Stir in shredded cheese, paprika, salt and pepper. Pour over potato/ham mixture and stir well to combine but don’t overmix and break down potatoes. Transfer to a greased 9x13 casserole dish. Bake for 30 – 45 minutes or until bubbly.

Serves 4 - 6


Here's the lineup.

Cut the potatoes into good-sized bite-sized chunks.

Melt the butter then add the flour.

Gradually add the cream. (You can use something lower-fat, if you want to.
Just don't tell me.)

Stir it until it's nice and thick then...

..add the cheese, paprika, salt and pepper. Stir until melted.

Combine the cooked potatoes and the other chopped veggies.
I did not have pimentos so used roasted red peppers. Worked fine.

Pour the cheesy goodness over the veggies then gently stir.

Pour into a greased casserole dish and....

..then bake it up! Oh my...the creaminess of this will blow you away!!