Aunt Tammy's Homemade Mac & Cheese

I thought I would share our favorite macaroni and cheese recipe. This is my Aunt Tammy's recipe that she is always expected to bring to any family gathering.

I make this nearly once a week - especially for Cayson. It's great because I can serve him the leftovers for several meals. I sometimes add ham or veggies to it for a little variation. You can add chopped carrots while you're boiling the pasta and get the added nutrition. My favorite addition is chopped bell peppers. I add them during the final stage of melting the cheese, etc.

Homemade Mac & Cheese

1 cup macaroni (salt for water)
4-5 slices American cheese
1/2 stick butter
1/4 cup or more of milk
garlic salt
pepper

Cook macaroni according to package. Drain. Add remaining ingredients and pasta to pan. Mix until melted on medium heat.

Optional additions: Ham, carrots, peas, bell pepper, asparagus

Ham & Cheese Ziti for dinner tonight!

Tonight's dinner was a baked ham & cheese ziti recipe that I found years ago on the Betty Crocker website. It's a spin on macaroni and cheese and uses tube-shaped pasta - ziti. You can use another type of pasta such as penne or something similar.

Ham & Cheese Ziti

2 1/2 cups uncooked ziti pasta (9 oz)

1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 garlic clove, finely chopped (I used garlic powder because I didn't have any garlic)
1/4 cup flour
1/2 t salt
2 cups milk
1/2 t Dijon mustard
2 cups shredded Colby cheese (or whatever you have on hand)
4 ounces sliced cooked deli ham, cut into thin strips
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1. Heat oven to 350. Cook and drain pasta as directed on package

2. While pasta is cooking, melt butter in 3 qt. saucepan over low heat. Cook garlic in butter 30 seconds, stirring frequently. Stir in flour and salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and bubbly. Gradually stir in milk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute. Stir in mustard and Colby cheese. Cook, stirring occassionally, until cheese is melted.

3. Stir pasta and ham into cheese sauce. Pour into ungreased 2 quart casserole dish. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake uncovered 20 to 25 minutes or until bubbly.