Baked Mac N' Cheese (with Ham)

I was trying to think of a way to use that 7lb ham that we bought last week, and who doesn't like Mac N' Cheese? This recipe adapted from a Taste of Home cookbook turned out to be delicious, but it did make a lot of food. We ended up saving half of it in the freezer for a time when I don't feel like cooking. I'm sure you could make a half recipe in a smaller pan.
I think this cost about $5 for all the ingredients (at Aldi), but it made 4 meals (dinner and leftovers for lunch, twice) so it would be $1.25 for each meal. Two people definitely couldn't eat out for that little!

4 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
dried chopped onion (to taste)
3/4 c butter, divided
6 Tbl flour
4 1/2 c milk
4 c shredded sharp cheddar (or white cheddar)
1 tsp mustard
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
3/4 c cracker crumbs
optional: chopped ham

• Cook macaroni
• Meanwhile, saute onion in 1/2 c butter. Add flour, whisk until blended. Add milk. Bring to boil; cook and stir 2 minutes  or until thickened. Stir in cheese, mustard, salt, and pepper until smooth.
• Drain macaroni and add to sauce. Add ham. Stir until coated. 
• Transfer to greased 13x9 dish. Melt remaining 1/4 c butter and toss with bread crumbs. Sprinkle over macaroni mixture.
• Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 30 minutes or until heated through
  

Bowtie Pasta with Creamy Parmesan Sauce

One of our favorite restaurants (The Anvil Inn-now closed) had a dish similar to this, but they used tortellini instead of bowtie pasta. I searched the Internet for recipes that included "prosciutto and mushrooms in a rich parmesan sauce" to no avail. So I combined a couple of different recipes to get this one. This is something you probably want to make for company. It costs about $5-7 (depending on meats-see recipe) for 6 servings, so it's more than I usually spend on a dinner for just the two of us. Like most pasta dishes, it's even better the next day when you eat the leftovers!

1 box bowtie pasta (or penne)
2 1/4 cup half & half (could use heavy cream if desired)
1/4 tsp instant chicken bouillon (or 1/4 cube-crumbled)
3/4 c parmesan cheese
1/2 Tbl cornstarch
2 Tbl butter
1/4 c prosciutto, chopped (could use bacon, turkey bacon, or chicken)
1 Tbl garlic, minced (more if you like)
1/2 cup sliced mushrooms (I used baby portabella)
1/2 Tbl parsley

• Boil pasta according to package directions
• Bring 2 cups of half & half to simmer
• Whisk in bouillon and cheese
• Dissolve cornstarch in 2Tbl water- Whisk into mixture.
• Cook 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Melt butter in skillet
• Stir in meat, garlic, and mushrooms. 
• Saute 3 minutes
• Mix sauce, pasta, and meat.
• Add 1/4 cup half & half and parsley

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Macaroni and Cheese

This is a pretty basic Mac N' Cheese recipe using Velveeta (or the like). We like to add Ham and sometimes broccoli when we make this!

3 c macaroni
5 Tbl butter
1 tsp salt
5 Tble flour
5 c milk
1 lb Velveeta, cubed

• Cook and drain macaroni.
• In saucepan, melt butter. Add flour and salt stirring well.
• Gradually add milk and bring to boil. Stir until thick.
• Remove from heat. Add Velveeta, stirring until dissolved.
• Pour sauce over cook macaroni and blend well. Add ham/broccoli/etc at this time.
  
• Pour into greased 9x13 pan and bake about 25 minutes or until brown.
• Crushed Ritz crackers may be added on top before baking if desired