Sydney's Macaroni and Cheese

By SDAB

Good with or without the Ham.

Prep Time 30 minutes.

Total time 1 Hour.

Ingredients

• Coarse Salt and Ground Pepper
• 1 pound elbow pasta, cooked and drained.
• 4 tablespoons butter.
• 1 small onion, chopped.
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour.
• 4 cups milk
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper. (optional)
• 1 1/4 cups (5 ounces) shredded yellow cheddar cheese.
• 1 1/4 cups (5 ounces) shredded white cheddar cheese.
• 8 ounces ham, diced into 1/2-inch pieces.
• 2 slices white sandwich bread.

Details

Servings 8

Preparation

Step 1

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cook pasta, and drain; reserve. Meanwhile, in a 5-quart heavy pot, melt butter over medium head. Add onion; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Whisk in flour to coat onion. In a slow steady stream, whisk in milk until there are no lumps.

2. Cook, whisking often, until mixture is thick and bubbly and coats the back of a wooden spoon, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in cayenne, if using, and 1 cup each yellow and white cheddar cheese. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.

3. Toss pasta with cheese mixture; fold in ham. Transfer to a 9-by-13-inch baking dish or individual dishes. Set aside.

4. In a food processor, pulse bread until large crumbs form. Toss together with remaining 1/4 cup each white and yellow cheddar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Top pasta with breadcrumb mixture. Bake until top is golden brown, about 30 minutes.