Ingredients:
2.5 pounds of potatoes
Center cuts of ham - about 1/2 pound
Half a pound of mushrooms
1 tbsp of crushed garlic
1 tbsp of butter
1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
For the white sauce (Béchamel in French)
1/2 cup of butter - 4 oz
1/2 cup of flour
4 cups of milk
1 teaspoon of grated nutmeg
Salt & pepper
Directions:
Peel the potatoes and cut into thin slices.
Mix butter and garlic and use it to grease a dish (rectangular baking dish - 9" x 13").
Put potatoes in layers.
Cover and place the dish into the microwave oven, cook on high heat for 10 minutes.
Then add the ham cut into cubes and the sliced mushrooms.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (210 degrees Celsius).
Prepare the white sauce (Béchamel in French) :
In a medium size pan, melt butter at low heat and pour flour while mixing with a wooden spatula.
Keep on mixing while cooking on LOW heat for about 2 minutes, until butter and flour are completely
melted and mixed.
Let this cool down a little. Remove it from the stove and gradually add the hot milk while constantly
mixing with a whisk in order to avoid lumps. This will create a perfectly smooth sauce.
Cook for 10 more minutes on medium heat, mixing this preparation often. When the "béchamel" sauce is ready,
add salt, pepper and grated nutmeg and keep it on low heat for 5 more minutes.
Pour the white sauce on top of the dish.
Add the shredded Swiss cheese.
Then bake in regular oven for 55 minutes at 400 degrees F.
Bon appétit !
