Food Network Scholar: Ham, Green Bean and Potato Casserole

Television Feasts

I am a home cook who backyard gardens and has a serious closet addiction to the Food Network. I envision visiting the world in my own kitchen.

From Julia to Giada, I am a bi-product of the quirky world of anything food television. At age 10 I wanted to lunch with Julia; at 12 I thought sitting at Graham Kerr's table would be bliss; in college I was a diligent voyeur student of Jeff Smith's; and as a newlywed I envisioned myself being Martha. Then the sky opened up and violin music played in the background when I discovered an entire family of food shows on the blossoming food network. Twenty years later I am still a home chef with a backyard garden, yet in my head I am a trained chef who has eaten her way around the world, tasted all things exotic, competed in many challenges, judged the best of the best, and have a circle of friends which includes Emeril, Bobby, Rachael and more. I like to learn and challenge myself simply for the pleasure of all things food. I am a student of the University of Food Network and my textbooks, exams and extra-curricular activities all stem from channel 39.

Monday, April 21, 2014

Ham, Green Bean and Potato Casserole

For all of my family and friends that remember what a Gray Lady was, getting the kick ball stuck on the roof, dragging book bags to Stations of the Cross, Monsignor giving each of us a box of chocolates for Christmas, and who wore shorts under their skirt so you would not fall prey to boys and there silly 'dress up day', you will appreciate today's recipe. Years ago I found a recipe on mimeographed paper tucked into one of my mother's (Mrs. Hobbs, 7th Grade English, yes the one who made you pay a dime to borrow a tie if you forgot yours) books. The paper was greyish, the blurry purple ink brought up memories of that drum like copy machine cranking out test papers that smelled oddly good. Thump. Thump. Thump. But, back to the recipe.....
I had forgotten all about this fare in the school cafeteria. Apparently Mum had asked for the recipe and shared it among the teachers. On a lark I made it with leftover Easter ham for her. She savored it as if it were caviar. Well, my kids, who were very young at the time, went nuts for it. It is now expected every year. It probably is to them classic comfort food. There is not much to it at all. Actually it is plain, but for some reason it tastes really, really good!
So fellow bone crushers, invoke the spirit of Mrs. Church and Mrs. McFeeley, serve it on a tray with a small carton of milk and a square of cornbread, and you will be transported to the 60's and 70's. Don't forget to get your lunch ticket punched.

Ham, Green bean and Potato Casserole

A few cups of leftover ham cut into small pieces
A bag of frozen Green beans
5 medium potatoes in bite size pieces.
1-1/2 c. milk
3 T. flour
3 T. butter
pepper

Cook the potatoes until fork tender.
Combine the potatoes, beans and ham in a large bowl.

(In the original recipe this white sauce was made on the stove top, I perfected it to make it in the microwave)
In a glass bowl whisk the milk and flour until smooth.