Baked Celery With Cheese And Ham Recipe

Ingredients for Baked Celery With Cheese And Ham

• 2 pounds celery, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
• Salt Water
• 1 cup diced ham (about 4 ounces)
• Sharp Cheddar Cheese
• 2 tablespoons butter
• All Purpose Flour
• Chicken Broth
• Light Cream
• ½ teaspoon salt
• Dry Breadcrumbs

How to Make Baked Celery With Cheese And Ham

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Wash and trim 2 pounds of celery stalks. Cut into 1-inch pieces.
3. In a large pot, cover celery with salted water. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until tender-crisp, about 15 minutes.
4. Drain the celery thoroughly and set aside.
5. In a well-greased 2-quart casserole dish, layer half of the cooked celery, followed by 1 cup of diced ham (about 4 ounces), and 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese.
6. Repeat layers with remaining celery, ham, and cheese.
7. In a medium skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over low heat. Whisk in 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour until smooth.
8. Gradually whisk in 1 cup of chicken broth and ½ cup of heavy cream. Cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens and is smooth.
9. Season the sauce with ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper.
10. Pour the creamy sauce evenly over the celery, ham, and cheese layers in the casserole dish.
11. Top with ½ cup of breadcrumbs.
12. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and bubbly. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.