Country Potatoes au Gratin

Ingredients

• 3 pounds baking potatoes peeled cut into 1/8-inch-thick slices
• 0.3 teaspoon pepper black freshly ground
• 2 teaspoons butter 
• 1.3 cups seasoning cubes diced
• 0.7 cup flour all-purpose
• 3  garlic clove minced
• 4 cups milk 2% reduced-fat
• 5.5 ounces onion thinly sliced
• 1 teaspoon salt 
• 1.5 cups sharp cheddar cheese shredded divided

Equipment

• frying pan
• oven
• whisk
• baking pan
• aluminum foil
• dutch oven

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 35
2. Melt butter in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
3. Add onion and garlic; saut 5 minutes or until onion is tender.
4. Combine milk, salt, pepper, and flour, stirring with a whisk.
5. Add milk mixture to pan. Bring to a simmer; cook until slightly thick (about 2 minutes), stirring frequently.
6. Add 4 ounces cheese and ham, stirring until cheese melts. Stir in potatoes.
7. Place the potato mixture in a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray.
8. Sprinkle potato mixture with remaining 2 ounces of cheese. Cover with foil coated with cooking spray.
9. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 30 minutes or until lightly browned and potatoes are tender.
10. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.