Potato, Ham and Cheese Breakfast Casserole

This is NOT a quick recipe. But it is definitely worth making! This was part of our Christmas morning brunch. I boiled the potatoes on Christmas Eve afternoon to save time assembling this on Christmas day. I think next time I'll peel them and slice them as well. We'll also leave out the sun-dried tomatoes. It was delicious, but we think it would be even more so without the tomatoes. The other thing that would save a little time on Christmas morning is to shred the cheese the day before as well.
Here are the ingredients needed:

2 1/2 pounds Yukin gold potatoes, unpeeled
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes (not oil-packed) - optional
12 ounces ham, finely chopped (2 cups)
8 ounces fontina, Gruyere or Swiss cheese, shredded (2 cups) - I used Swiss because it's what I could find in the store.
2 tablespoons flour
8 eggs
3 cups whole milk or half-and-half (I used milk and it was fine)
1 teaspoon coarse salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Place potatoes on a large pot with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium or medium-low and simmer for 15 to 25 minutes, until potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork. Drain and let cool.
Melt butter in skillet over medium heat. Cook onion for 5 minutes or until golden brown and softened, stirring occasionally.
Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray 13x9 inch glass or ceramic baking dish with cooking spray. Remove skin from potatoes with paring knife and slice 1/4 inch thick.
Layer half of the potatoes in the baking dish. Top with half of the tomatoes, half the onions and half the ham. Toss the shredded cheese with flour and sprinkle half over the potatoes. Repeat layers with remaining potatoes, onions, ham and shredded cheese.
Whisk eggs until blended. Gradually whisk in the milk, salt and pepper. Pour over the potatoes and sprinkle with the Parmesan. Bake 50 to 55 minutes or until browned and bubbly and knife inserted in center comes out moist but clean. Center will set as casserole cools. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Casserole can be made up to 4 hours in advance and kept refrigerated until baking time. Bake 5 or 10 minutes longer than stated in recipe.



*recipe found in the January 2011 Cooking Club magazine.