Ham-bean Scallop (oamc)

Total Time: 3 hrs 30 mins Preparation Time: 2 hrs Cook Time: 1 hr 30 mins

Ingredients

• 2 lbs dry navy beans (pea)
• 2 quarts boiling water
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1/4 cup instant minced onion
• 1 cup green pepper, cut in thin strips
• 3/4 cup butter or 3/4 cup margarine
• 3/4 cup unsifted flour
• 4 teaspoons dry mustard
• 1 1/2 quarts bean cooking liquid and milk
• 8 ounces processed cheddar cheese, shredded (2 cups)
• 2 1/2 lbs cooked ham, diced (8 cups)
• 1 cup fine dry breadcrumb
• 4 tablespoons melted butter

Recipe

• 1 line four 8x8x2-inch baking pans with heat-resistant freezer wrap.
• 2 allow enough extra wrap to fold over top.
• 3 use one pan for each six servings or one-fourth of the recipe.
• 4 do not line pans for food to be served without freezing.
• 5 add beans to boiling water; return to boiling.
• 6 boil beans 2 minutes;then soak beans 1 hour (or overnight, if preferred).
• 7 add salt to beans.
• 8 cook beans slowly until tender, about 1 1/2 hours.
• 9 drain; save cooking liquid.
• 10 cook onion and green pepper in fat about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• 11 stir in flour and mustard.
• 12 add enough milk to the reserved bean liquid to make 1 1/2 quarts.
• 13 add the bean liquid and milk slowly to the vegetable mixture.
• 14 cook until thickened, stirring constantly.
• 15 stir in beans, cheese, and ham.
• 16 pour one-fourth of mixture into each baking pan.
• 17 pack food tightly to avoid air pockets.
• 18 to serve without freezing: preheat oven to 375f.
• 19 (moderate).
• 20 mix 1/4 cup fine breadcrumbs with 1 tbs melted butter or margarine for each pan which will not be frozen.
• 21 sprinkle topping over bean mixture in baking pan.
• 22 bake 30 minutes or until crumbs are lightly browned.
• 23 to freeze: cool for 30 minutes at room temperature.
• 24 complete wrapping by pulling paper up over top of food.
• 25 put edges of wrap together and fold several times so paper lies directly on top of food.
• 26 fold ends of freezer wrap over the top and seal with freezer tape.
• 27 label with name of food, date of freezing, and last date the food should be used for best eating quality (about 6 months).
• 28 freeze immediately for 10 to 12 hours before removing packages from the pans.
• 29 to heat frozen food: preheat oven to 375f.
• 30 remove freezer wrap.
• 31 place food in baking pan.
• 32 mix 1/4 cup fine breadcrumbs with 1 tbs melted butter or margarine for each pan.
• 33 sprinkle topping over bean mixture in baking pan.
• 34 bake 1 1/2 hours or until edges are bubbly, crumbs are lightly browned, and center is hot.