Ham and Shredded Potato Casserole

All of us cook way too much food for whatever the occasion, especially during the holiday season. This is a recipe to help you salvage your leftover meat. In this particular version, I am using some ham I had left, but you can substitute hamburger, turkey or beef. And as for the creamed soup, use whatever type you have on hand or like best. This particular recipe is intended to be used as a guide, not as an absolute. The beauty of this recipe is that it freezes perfectly, giving you an option for meals a little farther down the road when you may be just a tad bit busy to cook.

Now, let's talk turkey about the creamed soup. Every few months, I take a couple of days to make all sorts of creamed soups so that when I run across a yummy recipe, I can simply make it. I have been freezing them in 12 ounce portions which is about the size of a traditional can of soup. About 2 to 3 months is the shelf life in the freezer, so I try not to get too far ahead. The next round I make I am planning to can them in a water bath. I will let you know how that little experiment works out!

Don't get turned off by the high numbers for fat, sodium and cholesterol; yes, they are high than what I particularly need in those areas, but look at all the good things that fill this recipe. By changing to a leaned type of meat, such as turkey or chicken, the sodium and cholesterol counts should lower. 

Here is my recipe:
1/4 cup fresh parmesan cheese, finely grated
1 cup cheddar cheese, finely grated
3 cups potato, shredded
2 1/2 cups ham, cooked and cubed
1 can cream of celery soup (Click here for my gluten free version of cream of celery soup)
1/8 teaspoon paprika

Here is how I made this: 
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray an 11 by 7 inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.

2. Place both cheeses in a medium sized mixing bowl; mix and set aside.

3. Shred potatoes; squeeze out excess moisture. In medium mixing bowl, place shredded potatoes, ham and soup. Stir to combine thoroughly. Spoon into prepared baking dish. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until bubbly throughout and the edges are crisp and brown.

4. Sprinkle cheese evenly over the top. Return to the oven and bake another 6 to 8 minutes or until cheese is completely melted.

5. To garnish, sprinkle with a few dashes of paprika.

Servings: 8

Oven Temperature: 400°F

Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes

Dietary Analysis:

·                     Items highlighted in yellow should be taken into careful consideration when looking at total food intake for the day.

·                     Items highlighted in green are indicate a low value when considering total food intake for the day.

Percent daily values based on the Reference Daily Intake (RDI) for a 2000 calorie diet. Nutrition information calculated from recipe ingredients.

Calories per serving: 340.42
Calories From Fat (31%) 107.05

% Daily Value
Total Fat 12.1g 19%
Saturated Fat 5.84g 29%
Cholesterol 78.38mg 26%
Sodium 1139.78mg 47%
Potassium 1032.12mg 29%
Total Carbohydrates 35.9g 12%
Fiber 4.12g 16%
Sugar 2.45g
Protein 22.28g 45%
Fiber 4.12g 16%
Copper 0.42mg 21%
Energy 1424.35
Glucose 0.57g
Iron 3.33mg 19%
Lactose 0.04g
Lysine 1.81g
Magnesium 66.69mg 17%
Manganese 0.36mg 18%
Net Carbohydrates 31.78g
Phosphorus 446.4mg 45%
Riboflavin 0.3mg 18%
Selenium 27.28mcg 39%
Thiamin 0.18mg 12%
Vitamin A 347.35IU 7%
Vitamin B12 0.5mcg 8%
Vitamin B6 0.68mg 34%
Vitamin C 40.27mg 67%
Vitamin D 5.46IU 1%
Vitamin E 0.53mg 5%
Vitamin K 3.72mcg 5%
Zinc 2.95mg 20%

Author: Dr. Jacquelyn P. Horne
Copyright: 2012