Christmas Recipes - Creamed Chicken or Ham Recipe

Ingredients

Serves 4-6

---

Method:

1. Trim the mushrooms and slice them thickly. Cook them in a shallow pan, with the wine, until the wine has reduced to about 3 tablespoons. Lift the mushrooms out with a perforated spoon and set them aside.

2. Peel and finely chop the shallots, add them to the wine in the pan and cook until virtually all the wine has evaporated. Skin the tomatoes, remove the seeds and chop the flesh roughly.

3. In a separate pan, melt most of the butter, stir in the flour and cook for 2 minutes. Gradually add the cream to make a smooth sauce. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

4. Stir in the cooked shallots and the chopped tomatoes. Bring the sauce to the boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 5 -6 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.

5. Arrange the ham in a lightly buttered flameproof dish, sprinkle with the mushroom and pour over the cream sauce.

6. Grate the cheese evenly over the sauce and dot with the remaining butter. Put the dish under a medium grill until the ham is heated through and the cheese is lightly browned and bubbly.

7. Alternatively, cook the dish in the centre of a pre-heated oven, at 400F/200C (mark 6), until the cheese is browned.