Macaroni With Ham and Cheese

Ingredients

• ½ pound uncooked macaroni, about 2 cups
• Salt to taste, if desired
• ¾ pound cooked ham, sliced
• ¼ pound mushrooms
• ½ pound sharp Cheddar cheese
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 2 cups milk
• ⅛ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• Freshly ground black pepper to taste
• ½ cup finely chopped onion
• ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese

• Nutritional Information

  • Nutritional analysis per serving (6 servings)

    664 calories; 43 grams fat; 24 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 12 grams monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 38 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams dietary fiber; 7 grams sugars; 30 grams protein; 153 milligrams cholesterol; 1043 milligrams sodium

  Note: Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available data.
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6 or more servings

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
2. 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.
3. Meanwhile, cut the ham into 1/2-inch cubes and set aside. There should be about 2 cups.
4. Slice the mushrooms. There should be about 2 cups.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. Brown the macaroni and cheese under the broiler until the top is nicely browned, 2 to 3 minutes.

35 minutes