Ham & Broccoli Casserole
This little casserole dish I have used is what was in the cupboard holding stir sticks and sugars for making coffee. There are about a bazillion coffee cups by the way, as well as two smallish saucepans which would be suitable to heat up baked beans, etc. There is also a working microwave and toaster. I am not sure about the coffee maker as I don't drink coffee.
There is a can opener which does not work. Repeat. Does not work. I think, personally, they have a lot of cheek charging me over $600 a week for this place, but hey, beggars can't be choosers! I have had to ask for clean towels and garbage bags. There are no cleaning supplies, and I have not been given clean bed linens.
This town is not situated in an area that is big for takeaway or delivery food services. If you were in a larger area you wouldn't have to worry too much about being able to feed yourself if you had those services available.
Here in this small town I am very much reliant on the capacity to be able to cook for myself, and I am doing the best that I can.
Some things you might want to consider bringing with you should you find yourself in the same situation. Make sure you have a sharp knife with you which is suitable for cutting/chopping things. Likewise a small grater would be handy.
You might also want to pack yourself a good in-working-order can opener! Also a selection of cutlery, and something to use to disinfect anything that you might need to use from the room. A small bottle of dish soap would be very good to have, as well as cleaning towelettes.
You have no way of knowing how long the things have been sitting in the cupboards/drawers, or the level of cleanliness habits of the room/suite's previous occupants. I may just be ultra picky. I don't know.
One thing is for sure. I don't want to be eating on or around other people's filth, so be prepared to clean everything before you use it. You may also want to bring with you several dish clothes and tea towels. Also pot holders. There are none in this room.
I had my sister bring me down some and they are doing double duty as pot holders. I am so lucky I have someone that I can just call to bring me stuff when I need it.
Even so, I don't want to be putting her out if I can help it. I don't want to be wearing out my welcome before I even move in!
So these are just a few hints and tips that I can think of that might make your quarantine stay a bit easier to navigate. Forewarned is forearmed!
So back to this casserole. I had my sister pick me up a bag of frozen loose hash browns. In the UK you could use regular hashbrown patties, crumbled. Or you could use chopped boiled potatoes!
I can't think of a casserole on earth that would not benefit from having something crisp and crunchy sprinkled on top. I thought of using some of my crunchy Cheetos, but then thought again!
I had some potato chips and crumbled some of them. With a bit more cheese added to them, I sprinkled them over top a la Mom!
Ham & Broccoli Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 mug fulls of loose hashbrowns (about 1 1/4cups)
- 4 slices of boiled ham, chopped
- 3 TBS chopped onion
- 1 clove of garlic, peeled and finely chopped
- 3 broccoli florets, blanched and chopped
- 2 Individual portions of strong cheddar cheese (each about 2 inches wide, 3 inches long and 1/3 inch thick)
- salt and black pepper to taste
- 1/2 tsp summer savoury or dried thyme
- 3/4 cup (180ml) milk
- 4 TBS of mayonnaise
- 1 TBS Dijon mustard
- 1 2-inch cube of strong cheddar cut into small cubes
- a handful of potato chip crumbs
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F/ gas mark 4. Butter a small casserole dish really well. (The one in my room is about 5 inches square.)
- Mix the potatoes, ham, onion, garlic, broccoli and cheese together in a bowl. Season to taste with salt and black pepper. Beat together the milk, mayonnaise and mustard. Pour over the mixture in the bowl and mix well together to combine. Pour into the casserole dish and spread out evenly.
- Mix together the potato chip crumbs and cheese for the topping and sprinkle evenly over top.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, until cooked through and bubbling. Let stand for five minutes prior to serving.
I will enjoy the leftovers from this tomorrow and I have some of the chicken rice dish frozen to enjoy as well. I am not sure how many more inventive quarantine dishes I will make as I am being sprung-free on Friday! I hope, however, that this series has been somewhat helpful!
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