Corn Pudding with Mushrooms and Ham

Preparation Arrange a rack in lower third of oven and preheat to 350°F. Generously butter an 8x8x2" glass baking dish. Sprinkle evenly with 2 tablespoons cheese. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms; cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and skillet is dry, 5-7 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer mushrooms to a small bowl; set aside. Wipe skillet clean. Using the large holes on a box grater, coarsely grate corn kernels from cobs into a large bowl (you should have about 2 cups). Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter with oil in same skillet over medium-low heat. Add onion; cook, stirring often, until soft and translucent (do not brown), 8-10 minutes. Stir in flour. Add grated corn; increase heat to medium. Cook, stirring often, until most of liquid evaporates and corn is bright yellow, 2-3 minutes. Add cream; cook, stirring frequently, until well blended and most of liquid has evaporated, about 3 minutes. Stir in milk, ham, 3/4 cup cheese, and reserved mushrooms. Cook, stirring often, until flavors begin to meld, 1-2 minutes longer. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer corn mixture to a large bowl. Season eggs with salt and pepper. Add to corn mixture; stir gently to blend. Pour into prepared baking dish; sprinkle with 2 tablespoons cheese. Set dish in a roasting pan; place in oven. Pour hot water into roasting pan to come halfway up sides of baking dish (this will prevent eggs from curdling). Bake until pudding is just set in the center (center will jiggle very slightly when dish is nudged), 40-45 minutes. Use a ladle or turkey baster to remove about half of water from roasting pan to prevent any hot water from spilling when pan is lifted from oven. Remove roasting pan with pudding from oven. Remove baking dish from pan. Preheat broiler. Return pudding to oven; broil until top is golden brown in spots, 2-3 minutes. Let stand for at least 15 minutes and up to 30 minutes before serving.

Preparation Arrange a rack in lower third of oven and preheat to 350°F. Generously butter an 8x8x2" glass baking dish. Sprinkle evenly with 2 tablespoons cheese. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms; cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and skillet is dry, 5-7 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer mushrooms to a small bowl; set aside. Wipe skillet clean. Using the large holes on a box grater, coarsely grate corn kernels from cobs into a large bowl (you should have about 2 cups). Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter with oil in same skillet over medium-low heat. Add onion; cook, stirring often, until soft and translucent (do not brown), 8-10 minutes. Stir in flour. Add grated corn; increase heat to medium. Cook, stirring often, until most of liquid evaporates and corn is bright yellow, 2-3 minutes. Add cream; cook, stirring frequently, until well blended and most of liquid has evaporated, about 3 minutes. Stir in milk, ham, 3/4 cup cheese, and reserved mushrooms. Cook, stirring often, until flavors begin to meld, 1-2 minutes longer. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer corn mixture to a large bowl. Season eggs with salt and pepper. Add to corn mixture; stir gently to blend. Pour into prepared baking dish; sprinkle with 2 tablespoons cheese. Set dish in a roasting pan; place in oven. Pour hot water into roasting pan to come halfway up sides of baking dish (this will prevent eggs from curdling). Bake until pudding is just set in the center (center will jiggle very slightly when dish is nudged), 40-45 minutes. Use a ladle or turkey baster to remove about half of water from roasting pan to prevent any hot water from spilling when pan is lifted from oven. Remove roasting pan with pudding from oven. Remove baking dish from pan. Preheat broiler. Return pudding to oven; broil until top is golden brown in spots, 2-3 minutes. Let stand for at least 15 minutes and up to 30 minutes before serving.