From the Garden...Broccoli Ham Hot Dish

We liked this recipe…I’ve already made it again.  We liked the simple sauce much better than cream soup.  We did think that a pound of ham was plenty – I do buy good ham without water added which is more flavorful and really needs less to make a dish taste good. 

This is a perfect pot luck or buffet dish.  I simply chopped a couple of heels of homemade bread in my little food processor for the fresh bread crumbs.  I didn’t bother with the cheese on top – it didn’t need it.   If you want a little cheese taste, add some to the sauce before assembling.  

Broccoli Ham Hot Dish

  20        Ounces  Frozen Broccoli

     2       Cup  Cooked Rice or Brown Rice

  6          Tablespoons  Butter -- cubed

     2/3   Cup  Fresh Bread Crumbs -- about 2 1/2 slices

  1          Medium  Onion -- chopped

  3          Tablespoons  Flour, All-purpose

  1          Teaspoon  Salt

     1/4    Teaspoon  Pepper

  3          Cups  Whole or Skim Milk

  1 1/2   Pounds  Ham – cubed  (I used 1 pound)

               Cheddar Cheese -- or Swiss, shredded (optional)

Cook broccoli, drain.  Spoon rice in a 13 x 9" baking pan.  Place broccoli over rice.

Melt butter in a large skillet.  Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of melted butter over the bread crumbs and set aside.  In the remaining butter, sauté onion until soft.  Add the flour, salt and pepper, stirring constantly until blended, stir in milk.  Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes until thickened.  Add ham.

Pour over rice and broccoli.  Sprinkle with crumbs.  Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until heated through.  Sprinkle with cheese; let stand 5 minutes before serving.

8 Servings

2013 Cost:  $5.62 or 71¢ per serving if using 1 ½ pounds good ham

I use 2/3 cup rice and 1 1/3 cup water to make 2 cups of rice.

  "Taste of Home Casseroles and One Dish Meals"

Per Serving: 388 Calories; 21g Fat (48.8% calories from fat); 22g Protein; 28g Carbohydrate; 3g Dietary Fiber; 84mg Cholesterol; 1559mg Sodium.  Exchanges: 1 Grain(Starch); 2 Lean Meat; 1 Vegetable; 1/2 Non-Fat Milk; 3 Fat.