Diary Free Ham and Potato Casserole
With the economic worries that we are all having lately, I got to thinking about how to stretch our grocery dollars. With 5 in my family to feed, our grocery bill is usually quite high, not to mention the added expense of my youngest being allergic to milk. We're trying to go back to “basics” of olden days before so many processed and ready to eat foods were available. Making our food from scratch is healthier, and most of the convenience foods have milk, or milk based proteins in them- which in our hone, is just not acceptable. We all eat the same things, and if a recipe has milk, it's either altered, or not part of our menu.
>My internal light bulb went off one afternoon, and I thought to myself Mmmm Crockpot recipe's and casseroles! I generally despised them as a kid, because we had them so often, but now I understand why. They help to stretch your food dollars. So, I went on a search for some recipes. Much to my surprise, most of what I found contained milk.. or at least (in the case of Crockpot recipes) CREAM soup mix of some kind. Which led me back to “basics” and altering the recipes myself. So, I've done some experimenting (some good, some awful), and I'm posting the recipe for anyone else who may have the same dilemma.. wanting casseroles WITHOUT milk.
Diced boiled potatoes I used 2 large Potatoes and left the skin on (extra nutrition)
>Cubed ham I used left over (yay) ham from Easter, about 2 cups
>Grease the bottom of a casserole dish with margerine.
>Layer potatoes, ham, and potatoes
Now, for the 'cream” sauce.
>A WHISK is most necessary
>2 Tablespoons dairy free margarine
>2 Table spoons flour ( I used wondra-it makes for a smoother sauce)
>2 cups plain soy milk room temperature(or you can heat it if you like)
>salt, and pepper
>Melt the butter in a heavy bottom sauce pan, (I was on medium high heat) Pour in the flour, and whisk with the butter constantly until the paste cooks some and bubbles a bit, but don't let it brown, a minute or two.
>Pour the milk in, and which with the flour mixture. Bring it to a boil (while whisking)
>Add salt and pepper.
>Lower the heat, and cook while whisking, 2 or 3 minutes more (it will thicken as it cooks)
>Remove from heat. Pour into casserole over ham and potato layers.
>I top with dairy free soy cheddar cheese.
>Bake at 350o until bubbly.
>YUMMY!
