Creamy Cheesy Ham And Pasta Food

HAM AND CHEESE PASTA BAKE

Steps:

• Make pasta: Put a big pot of salted water onto boil on high heat for the pasta (4 quarts, 2 tablespoons salt). While the pasta water is heating, prep the other ingredients. Once the water has reached a rolling boil, add the pasta and stir so it doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan. Let the water return to a rolling boil and cook, uncovered, for 9 to 10 minutes, until the pasta is "al dente", cooked through but still slightly firm to the bite.
• Make roux: Melt the butter in a large (3 to 4 quart), thick-bottomed pot on medium heat. Add the minced garlic. Let the garlic sizzle for a few seconds. Add the flour and whisk so that any lumps are dissolved. Let the roux (flour and butter) bubble and cook for a minute or two.
• Make the sauce: Slowly add the milk and cream, a quarter cup at a time, whisking until incorporated after each addition. Increase the heat to medium high. Add 1⁄4 teaspoon of ground nutmeg and 1⁄2 teaspoon of ground black pepper. (You may want to increase these later to taste.) Add 1⁄2 teaspoon of Italian seasoning. Add half of the shredded Mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, whisking until melted and incorporated into the sauce. Add 3/4 teaspoon of salt (again, you may want to increase this to taste). Stir in 1 cup of water (can use pasta cooking water if you want).
• Preheat oven to 400°F
• Combine pasta with sauce, ham, parsley, onion greens: Drain the cooked pasta and add it to the sauce. Add the ham. Add the chopped parsley and onion greens or chives. Gently stir to combine. Taste, and add more nutmeg, salt, pepper, or Italian seasoning to taste.

CHEESY HAM & BROCCOLI PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pan of water to the boil and cook the pasta following pack instructions, adding the broccoli florets to the pan for the final 4 mins. Drain and set aside.
• Meanwhile, make the sauce. Heat the oil in a large pan and cook the onion for 5 mins to soften, then stir in the garlic and cook for 1 min more. Stir in the ham, cream and mustard, then bring to the boil. Add the pasta and broccoli, then stir in the cheese, coating everything in the sauce.

CREAMY SCALLOPED POTATOES WITH HAM AND PEAS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 450°F. Spray 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray.
• In large bowl, place both packages of potatoes and sauce mix (from scalloped potatoes boxes), the ham and frozen peas; pour boiling water and whipping cream over mixture, and stir. Stir in 1 tablespoon of the chives. Pour mixture into baking dish; spread evenly.
• Sprinkle cheese over potato mixture. Bake 33 to 35 minutes or until top is golden brown and potatoes are tender. Let stand 5 minutes (sauce will thicken as it stands). Top with remaining 1 tablespoon chives.

CREAMY HAM 'N' MACARONI

Steps:

• Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain and set aside. In a large saucepan, melt butter over low heat; whisk in flour until smooth. Whisk in the milk, bouillon and pepper. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat. Stir in 1 cup cheddar cheese, ham, Parmesan cheese and macaroni., Transfer to a greased 2-qt. baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining cheddar cheese. Bake, uncovered, at 350° until bubbly, 20-25 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

BAKED CHEESY HAM AND SPAGHETTI CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Pasta -- Cook the pasta according to the directions on the package in a large pot of salted boiling water. Cook until al dente, drain and set aside.
• Ham and Vegetables -- Now in that same large pot you cooked the pasta in, add the butter and heat to medium. Then the mushrooms, ham, onion, scallions, parsley and cook until the mushrooms and onions are soft.
• Sauce -- To the vegetables, add the flour and stir until well blended. Then the broth, sherry, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Go easy on the salt because the broth and ham are both salty. Cook and stir until the sauce mixture thickens on medium to medium high heat. Reduce to medium and add in the cream, 1/2 of the parmesan, 1/2 of the white cheddar and the peas.
• Combine and Bake -- Add the drained pasta to the vegetable and cheese sauce and toss well. Spray a casserole dish 13x9 or similar with Pam or a nonstick spray and heat the oven to 350 degrees. Spread the pasta mix into the casserole and top with the extra cheese. Bake about 30 minutes until bubbly and the cheese get nice and brown on top. Let set 5 minutes before serving to allow the sauce to firm up.
• This is a absolutely great casserole. I have also done this same recipe with leftover turkey or chicken and was just as good. And don't be afraid to use a sharp cheddar or even a swiss cheese as well. I just happen to like the white cheddar and parmesan best.

PEA & HAM PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil, then cook the pasta following pack instructions, about 9 mins. Around 3 mins before the pasta is cooked, add the peas.
• Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a frying pan over a medium heat and fry the onion for 5 mins until soft but not golden. Add the ham, double cream, lemon juice and parmesan, then season and mix well. Remove from the heat.
• Drain the pasta and peas (keeping a mugful of the cooking water) and return them to the pan. Tip in the creamy ham mixture and stir everything together to combine. If the mixture seems a little dry, add some of the reserved cooking water to loosen it a little. Serve with extra parmesan on top, if you like.

CREAMY HAM, LEEK & MUSHROOM SPAGHETTI

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large saucepan. Stir in the leeks, 2 tbsp water and some seasoning, cover, then cook for 5 mins over a medium heat until softened. Add the mushrooms and garlic, then cook for 3 mins more. Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti according to pack instructions, then drain, reserving a little of the cooking liquid.
• Stir the soft cheese into the leek and mushroom mixture, adding enough of the reserved pasta liquid to give a sauce-like consistency. Add the ham, basil leaves and Parmesan, then toss in the spaghetti.

CHEESY SCALLOPED POTATOES WITH HAM

Steps:

• In 4-quart Dutch oven, melt butter over medium heat. Cook garlic in butter 1 minute, stirring occasionally, until softened. Remove from heat. Stir in potatoes, ham, cheese, flour and pepper.
• Pour half-and-half over potato mixture. Heat to boiling over medium-high heat; reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until potatoes are tender.

CREAMY HAM & MUSHROOM PASTA BAKE

Steps:

• Cook the pasta according to pack instructions, then drain. Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6, then melt a little butter in a large saucepan. Fry the mushrooms for a couple of mins, then scoop out and set aside. Use some kitchen paper to wipe out the pan.
• Melt the remaining butter in the pan, then add most of the onions and soften for 1 min. Stir in the flour for another min, then gradually stir in the milk until you have a lump-free sauce. Increase the heat and bubble the sauce, stirring for a few mins to thicken. Turn off the heat, stir in the ham and most of the cheese, then season to taste.
• Tip the pasta and mushrooms into a large ovenproof dish, then pour over the sauce and mix well in the dish. Scatter over the remaining cheese and spring onions, then bake for 10 mins until golden.