Macaroni and Cheese with Ham

Macaroni and cheese is a favorite family dinner comfort food in our household. My daughter loves to eat her macaroni and cheese along with slices of pan-fried Spam. She inherited the taste for Spam from her father. I prefer to use a piece of thickly sliced ham, sometimes referred to as a ham steak, in this recipe. Diced Canadian bacon can also be used.

We also serve lots of boxed macaroni and cheese at our house when we are in a hurry. But the baked version of this classic American dish is much tastier than the stuff that comes in cardboard boxes. You can always make the macaroni and sauce ahead of time on a day that you have more time, such as on the weekend. The casserole can be stored in your refrigerator for a day or two until you are ready to serve it. I would increase the cooking time to 30-40 minutes if you are taking the casserole from the refrigerator.

For the macaroni:
3 cups dried shell shaped macaroni
2 tablespoons margarine
1 cup diced ham steak

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Fill a large pan with water and bring it to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook according to the package directions. Drain the hot water from the pan and place the macaroni back into the pan. Toss the cooked macaroni with the margarine then stir in the diced ham. Place the lid on the pan and set aside.

For the sauce:
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups milk
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Add the butter to a small sauce pan and heat over low heat until melted. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute.Whisk in the milk and cook over medium heat while whisking continuously until the sauce thickens. Slowly add the cheese ½ cup at a time until it is thoroughly melted. Remove the cheese sauce from the heat and stir it into the cooked macaroni. Place the macaroni and cheese mixture into a 2 quart glass or ceramic baking dish.

For the topping:
½ cup dry bread crumbs
2 tablespoons fresh parsley - minced
2 tablespoons melted butter

Place the bread crumbs in a small bowl. Stir in the parsley and melted butter. Sprinkle on top of the macaroni and cheese mixture. Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly on the top. Makes 6-8 servings - guess it all depends upon how hungry you are!

I'm always trying to get my kids to eat more servings of fresh fruits and vegetables so I like to serve this dish along with a lettuce and tomato salad and a fresh fruit salad. If I bribe them with one of their favorite foods, like this macaroni and cheese recipe, I can usually get them to eat a bit of the lettuce and fruit salads.