Cauliflower Cheese With Ham

Cauliflower cheese is an old favourite but a few extra additions such as the ham, the mushrooms and the peas make this even more enticing.

Ingredients: 
1 cauliflower
2 tbsps of butter
2 - 3 onions - diced (I use 3)
4 cloves of garlic -  crushed and finely diced
2 ham steaks - diced into small chunks
2 tbsp of flour
1 tsp of mustard powder (made into a smooth paste with a little milk)
3 cups of milk (more if you like your sauce thinner)
1 cup of frozen peas
1 cup of diced fresh mushrooms (or can of mushrooms in peppered sauce)
3 cups of grated cheese (tasty is good)
1/2 cup of dry breadcrumbs
salt and pepper to your preferences

Method:
Boil the cauliflower until it begins to soften, then drain. (You may roast it instead if you wish but I think it tastes fresher if lightly boiled).

Melt butter in pan and stir fry the onion, garlic and ham steak until lightly browned.  Make a centre and sprinkle the flour, turn the heat down and stir fry for a few minutes, then mix through the other ingredients.

Turn the heat back onto high and add the milk, stirring constantly. Add the mustard paste and stir.  Bring to a slow boil and turn the heat to low.  

Mix in the frozen peas and mushrooms and simmer for another 10 minutes.  Add the cauliflower and simmer for another 5 minutes, then turn off the heat and stir through 2 cups of the grated cheese. 

Add salt and pepper according to your preferences.

Spoon the mixture into 1 large or 2 medium size casserole dishes and sprinkle over the third cup of grated cheese and then the breadcrumbs.  Bake at 180C or 350F for about 15 minutes until the top is browned.