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Now I’m going to be completely honest with you about this dish. It is NOT the most visually appealing dishes ever. It has a certain name that most know it by “S**t on a Shingle” is most common – heck that’s what my Dad called it. Mom called it “Chipped Beef on Toast” even though it was never ever beef. It was always shaved baked ham. I, called it, PERFECT! See this was the ALL TIME FAVORITE recipe EVER my Mom made. Even though we had virtually no money growing up each of us kids got to pick out anything we wanted to eat for our birthday – dinner and dessert. For 18 years (well maybe not when I was 1 or 2 years old), I asked for Chipped Beef on Toast and her to-die-for Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Pudding frosting. This is true ‘peasant’ food – it’s ridiculously cheap, fed a ton and well was ‘fugly’ looking. This would be the child in the family that wasn’t the athlete, wasn’t the brainiac, wasn’t the one that stood out but rather was the wall flower of the family.
BUT… yes but… when given the chance they proved you wrong. They stood out because they were unpretentious, ordinary and simplistic. In their own way they were truly amazing. That’s how this dish is to me. With just a few simple ingredients, you can take that wallflower plain jane dish and make it taste absolutely phenomenal. So yes, this will never be one of those gorgeous dishes that you just want to lick your monitor over but if given that chance to shine, it will become one of your all time favorites.
Now this I had on toast, not bread but toast. The contrast of the crunchy bread with the creaminess of the bechamel sauce with the hint of pepper and ham was just…perfect. The peas, for me, must only ever be canned peas. I absolutely LOATHE frozen peas and while fresh pea rock, they just don’t quite work in this dish.
Now even though my dearest mother has been gone since 26 years I still make this in the month of May (my birthday month) just for me. Mr. Fantabulous honestly I don’t think has ever tried this in all the years we’ve been together. I don’t think it’s on purpose, it’s more just that I make just enough for me. It’s like a personal dish that I have with her – at least in my heart when I eat it. It’s one of those foods that always trigger happy memories for me.
Do you guys do that? Do you have a food or dish that triggers a certain memory or slew of memories? Tell me about it.
Now what makes this even more ‘fugly’ if you will is that if you notice in the pictures, there are 2 regular slices of toast and the lowly end/crust piece. This, again, is a must for me. The crust was the anchor of the ‘boat’ that didn’t get this stuff on it. Since I was the youngest of the kids, even though it was my birthday I always seemed to get stuck with the crust. You know, that slice of bread that no one EVER wanted. It was hard and well more crust than real bread. However Mom always made it out to be so much more awesome than the regular bread slices. See, this dish, the bread must be toasted. And for me the toast HAD to be crispy. Again it’s that texture thing. You don’t want this to get all mushy right away. The crispier the toast, the longer it held up against the weight of the sauce and fillings. So if you used the end slice, it got super crispy and while my brothers would get stuck with the mushier pieces cause they had the “real bread” toasted my lowly crust was still nice and crispy up towards the end. Thus we called it the anchor of the boat. It was sturdy, kept stuff in place and didn’t let the fillings sink down in.
Pretty ingenious, eh?
So if I had to say one thing about this dish to you to try it I’d have to say “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover. Open it up and give it a try. You may just find yourself totally in love and beyond thrilled you gave it a shot!” Delicious doesn’t have to be fancy schmancy or drop-dead gorgeous.
Creamed Chipped Ham (Beef) on Toast – SOS
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Ingredients
- 4 tablespoon butter, unsalted
- 1/3 cup flour
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1 1/2 cups half and half (or can use all milk)
- 1 pound shaved chipped baked ham (or can use chopped dried beef)
- 3 1/2 cups peas (canned or frozen – thawed)
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 8 slices of bread, toasted – don’t forget about the ‘anchor’ crusts!
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter.
- Add in the flour and whisk for a minute to cook the flour.
- SLOWLY add in the milk whisking constantly to break up the clumps.
- Reduce heat to medium low and cook, whisking often until the mixture thickens. ~3-6 minutes. Watch so it doesn’t burn!
- Once the mixture thickens add in the ham and using a rubber tipped spatula, mix to combine, gently scraping on the base on the pan.
- Cook for 1 minute.
- Add in the peas, stir gently and turn off the heat.
- Toast the bread and place 2 slices of toast on a plate.
- Ladle a generous portion over the toast.
I’ve never had it with ham or peas. We always used he dried beef in a jar (always rinsed it in water first because it’s very salty) and when mom made it she used a little worcestershire sauce in it too. My grandma always kept the empty jars and we used them as juice glasses. Also, the chipped ham we used to sautee in bbq sauce and make into sandwiches.
Thank you so much for this recipe. My husband’s mom use to make it when he was a little boy. She passed away about a year ago. I could not find a recipe anywhere for it. It is absolutely perfect and my husband was thrilled! Thank you!
Oh Carrie,
Thank you so much! I really appreciate it!
Best Kitchen Wishes!
Awesome recipe, we added diced celery and diced onion with canned peas!!🥰🥰
So I made this last night and it was just like my dad’s! I did have to add quite a bit more salt and pepper, but that may have been because I used frozen peas and chipped beef or maybe we just like more salt. Other than doubling the salt and pepper, I followed the recipe exactly and will be making it again! Thank you!
So happy you loved it! Chipped beef is less salty than the ham I used so that may have been why you had to add more salt.
Best Kitchen Wishes!
My dad my creamed dried beef regularly when I was a child. It wasn’t necessarily my favorite and, you’re right, it wasn’t much too look at, but it was always comforting. My dad passed away 20 years ago and for several years I craved this recipe but couldn’t remember how he made it. I finally went online and chose your version because it looks exactly like the one dad made! We will be having it this week! Thank you for sharing this!
Awe thank you for sharing your lovely memory Holly! I hope you love this as much as I do!
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I am making this tonight! I was going to make it several weeks ago but the kids weren’t too happy with the thought of SOS! I showed them the picture and they are happier now! I will let you know how it turns out! Thank you again for sharing this!
It’s one of those “it’s not pretty but it’s so SO delicious” recipes. I can’t wait to hear you and their thoughts!
Best Kitchen Wishes!
Same story as many others here – I recall this old family recipe my Mom made and my Dad loved. Mom used the little glass jar of chipped beef too and my Dad did call it SOS. What a happy memory this conjured up. I will be making this soon in memory of my parents who passed away 14 and 12 years ago. Thanks so much for sharing!
I haven’t tried this recipe yet, but I’m definitely going to. You may be too young to remember, but I’m sure your mom is not. Once upon a time grocery stores sold a glass jar full of dried beef called chipped beef. My mom and probably both your grandmas used that jarred beef to make something very similar to your ham dish. My mom’s recipe did not have peas, but I think they will make a nice addition.
OMG, I know of that stuff! They still sell it actually! I make a beef “cheeseball” with it for the holidays!
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Thank you so much for this recipe. This is an old family go to dish mom made. I’ve asked my sister’s if they have and sadly they don’t. I’ve developed and mastered other “mom” recipe’s. Potato pattiesand salmon pattiesand my favorite southern baked chicken.
Thank you Lori!
Sincerely, Kevin
★★★★★
Hi Kevin!
You are most welcome! Enjoy!
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Haven’t had this in years! Same story as yours, my mother used to make it. She’s been gone 15 years and I’ve forgotten about it. Made a ham for Christmas, plenty of leftovers and my oldest son, 32, said I should make grandma’s creamed ham on toast. Making it this weekend! Thanks for reminding me how to make it! Cheers!