Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes with Ham

First, apologies for the sloppy photo.  I forgot to take a picture before I dished it out.  We were already into a couple of bites before it hit me.

Regardless, this is one delicious, comfort-food recipe.  On my never-ending quest to clean out my freezer (I'm doin' so good, you guys!) I found a ham bone and some frozen ham from Easter.  I had some russets that were becoming a bit, ummm, questionable.

This wonderful list of ingredients came together so well.  The sauce recipe alone is something to hold on to.  A one-dish meal....serve it with a steamed green vegetable to make it complete.

CHEESY SCALLOPED POTATOES with HAM (6 servings)

1 meaty ham bone
4 cups peeled and sliced potatoes
2 cups diced ham
1/2 onion, chopped
2 cups milk
1 cup frozen peas
3 Tbsp AP flour
2 Tbsp butter
1/2 tsp salt, optional
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp onion powder
1 tsp dried parsley
1/4 pound Cheddar cheese, diced
1 pinch paprika, or to taste

Simmer the ham bone in the milk for about 1/2-1 hour until the milk takes on the ham flavor.  Remove the bone and any meat from the bone.  Reserve the milk.

Preheat oven to 350F (175C).

Layer half of the potatoes, half of the ham, and half of the onion in a 2-quart baking dish (see NOTE below); repeat the layers.

Heat milk, peas, flour, butter, S&P, garlic powder, and onion powder in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened, 7-10 minutes.

Stir Cheddar cheese into sauce until cheese is melted.

Pour sauce over potato and ham mixture; sprinkle with paprika (NOTE: my 2-quart dish was completely full......I would pour half over the the first layer of potatoes and ham and the remainder over the top.)

Cover baking dish with aluminum foil.

Bake in the preheated oven until potatoes are tender, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours, until potatoes become tender.

Remove foil and continue baking until lightly browned, about 15 minutes more.

Recipe Adapted from:  http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Cheesy-Scalloped-Potatoes-with-Ham/Detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Thumb&e11=cheesy%20scalloped%20potatoes%20with%20ham&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Home%20Page&soid=sr_results_p1i1