Boxes Au Gratin Potatoes

So our air conditioner went out for the most part.  It still "works", but with the heat we've been having, it is really struggling to keep up.  It froze up again yesterday.  Which, for me, meant NO cooking in the house.  So yesterday we went out to eat.  Today it is actually a bit cooler - we are only supposed to get up to 89 today.  Quite a change from triple digits we've been getting.  So I made lunch today for the kids.  My son has been begging all summer long for grilled cheese and tomato soup.  I'm sorry - that is not a summer time food - that is for the fall, winter, and rainy days.  But, I gave in and made it for him today.  I also got to thinking that I should probably get something going for dinner.  Today we are having potatoes au gratin with ham.  I don't have any real potatoes around today, so we are using a box.  Today's recipe is actually a pretty quick and easy one.    All you need is a box or two of au grain potatoes and ham cubes - I'm using the pre-packaged already cubed kind today.  I'd rather spend my time getting caught up on laundry today than cooking.  So, here's what I did...

I dumped 2 boxes of au gratin potatoes into my smallest slow cooker.  The boxes called for 1/2 cup of milk, 2 cups of water, and 2 TBSP of butter.  Since I put 2 boxes in I doubled the milk to 1 cup, but I only used 2 cups of water, and 3 TBSP of butter.  I threw in a couple of handfuls of ham (whatever amount makes you happy and looks good)  I turned it on high and will watch the consistency to see if I need to add more water.  After about an hour or so I turn it down to low.  It should only take 2-3 hours to cook.  

This works good with scalloped potatoes as well.

Slow Cooker Cheesy Ham Au Gratin

I'm always on the lookout for comfort food made easy.  I've always loved Au Grain Potatoes and scalloped potatoes.  The thing I don't like - is all the work of slicing the potatoes.  This recipe makes it easy!  My kids are picky so I just use a can of regular whole kernal corn - not the Mexicorn.  I also buy the package of cubed ham so it cuts down on another step for me.  From Pillsbury.com

 

 

3 cups milk

1  (10 3/4-oz.) can condensed Cheddar cheese soup

2  (5-oz.) pkg. cheesy scalloped potatoes with skin-on potatoes

2  cups diced cooked ham

2  (11-oz.) cans Green Giant® SteamCrisp® Mexicorn® Whole Kernel Corn, Red and Green Peppers, drained

2  cups boiling water

Spray 3 1/2 to 4-quart slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray.
In large bowl, combine milk, soup and contents of seasoning packets from potatoes; blend well.
Add potatoes, ham and corn; mix well. Pour mixture into sprayed slow cooker.
Pour boiling water over potato mixture; stir to mix.
Cover; cook on low setting for 7 to 8 hours.

To shorten the cooking time, turn the slow cooker to high and cook for half of the time recommended for the low setting.