MACARONI WITH HAM AND CHEESE

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Macaroni With Ham and Cheese image

Provided by Pierre Franey

Categories     side dish

Time 35m

Yield 6 or more servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

1/2 pound uncooked macaroni, about 2 cups
Salt to taste, if desired
3/4 pound cooked ham, sliced
1/4 pound mushrooms
1/2 pound sharp Cheddar cheese
3 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon flour
2 cups milk
1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 cup heavy cream
3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
  • Bring 3 quarts of water to a boil for cooking the macaroni. Add salt to taste. Add the macaroni and cook 10 to 12 minutes, or until tender. Drain and return to pot.
  • Meanwhile, cut the ham into 1/2-inch cubes and set aside. There should be about 2 cups.
  • Slice the mushrooms. There should be about 2 cups.
  • Cut the Cheddar into slices about 1/4 inch thick. Stack the slices and cut them into 1/4-inch-wide strips. Cut the strips into 1/4-inch cubes. There should be about 2 cups.
  • Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a saucepan and add the flour, stirring with a wire whisk. Cook for about a minute; then add the milk, stirring rapidly with the whisk. Let simmer about 1 minute and add the nutmeg, Cheddar cheese, and salt and black pepper to taste.
  • Heat the remaining tablespoon of butter in a skillet and add the onions and mushrooms. Cook, stirring, until the mushrooms are wilted. Add the ham and cook, stirring, about 1 minute. Add the cheese sauce, the cayenne and cream. Cook, stirring, about 1 minute.
  • Pour and scrape the mixture into the macaroni and mix well. Transfer to a buttered 10-cup baking dish. Sprinkle the top with Parmesan cheese and place in the oven. Bake 10 minutes. Turn the broiler to high.
  • Brown the macaroni and cheese under the broiler until the top is nicely browned, 2 to 3 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 668, UnsaturatedFat 15 grams, Carbohydrate 40 grams, Fat 43 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 30 grams, SaturatedFat 25 grams, Sodium 1044 milligrams, Sugar 7 grams, TransFat 1 gram

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