Quick Dinner: Macaroni and Cheese.

What have you been eating this past few days? left-overs? I did not have that privilege because I did not host Thanksgiving. So all I had left-overs where desserts. Moreover, I kept my nieces and nephews for the week-end and I did not think they would have appreciated my much adored fish recipes;-) So what to do after a day of shopping? Yes, I did venture the crowd late afternoon yesterday and came home with a few things( i did not think that those deals were that great…)

Anyway, after having spent my day in the kitchen the day before and having starving teenagers, I needed to find a quick meal that would fill up their stomach…Macaroni and cheese. It is a quick fix-up that pleases most of everybody…

Ingredients: 4 cups of macaroni, 4 cups of water, 3 tbsp of butter, 2 cup of milk, 3 tbsp of flour, 3 cups of sharp cheddar, 2 cup of Mexican Blend, 1 lb of smoked ham diced. salt and pepper.

Materials: Small saucepan, Large Round Mold, Octogonal Silpat.

1. You can cook pastas acccording to the package directions or you can cook using the round mold and octogonal silpat. In the large round mold, place 4 cups of pastas, 4 cups of water and 1/2 tsp of salt. Microwave for 10 minutes. Stir and microwave for another 10 minutes.

2. Meanwhile prepare the sauce for the pasta. In a small saucepan, melt 2 tbsp of butter, add 3 tbsp of flour and mix well to make a roux. When the flour is turning brown, add the warm milk and stir at medium temperature until it comes to boil. Cook for another 5 minutes until it thickens. Add 2 cups of sharp cheddar, 2 cups of Mexican blend cheese, and mix well. Add more salt and pepper if you deem it necessary ( i did not). Then add the diced smoked ham and mix well.

Drain the pasta of excess water. Place the pastas back into the round mold and add the sauce with the ham. Mix well. Sprinkle 1 cup of cheddar on top of the pastas. Cook in a warm oven for 15-20 minutes at 375. Et voila!