Homemade Mac and Cheese with Semi Homemade Pineapple Ham

This recipe I learned from my ex-motherinlaw.. I was always hesitant to eat homemade mac and cheese because before I had Karen's they always seemed tasteless and chalky (well the ones I had in potlucks and what not). One thanksgiving in little falls NY I had hers for the first time and I was inlove!!! I had to learn to make that back home.. So here it is the recipe!!

Ingredients:

1 medium size box of Elbow macaroni or Shells if you prefer

1 pd of cubed extra extra sharp chedder (yellow or white)

1 cup of milk

1/2 cup of butter

1/2 cup of finely diced onions

1tbsp of regular mustard (to add sharpness to cheese)

1/3 cup of bread crumbs (I prefer italian)

Salt to taste

In a a large saucepan add butter and onions to saute.. for about 5 min or until they have lightly caramelized. Begin adding milk and stir continue by adding the cubed cheese while stirring you dont want the cheese to get like gum so stirring as much as possible is key. Add mustard and continue stirring until cheese sauce thickens.

While your doing the cheese sauce cook your pasta in another saucepan until pasta is Al Dente (When cooking pasta for use in casseroles, make sure the texture is al dente, or slightly chewy to the bite)

When done mix together and let sit for about 15 minutes so the pasta and cheese sauce can marinate together. Then get a oven casserole pan so you can add mac and cheese to the pan.. Top it off with the bread crumbs and let cook in the oven at 325f for about 20 minutes.

Semi-Homemade Pineapple ham.

This has got to be one of the easiest and quickest way to make pineapple ham not to mention very tasty. I normally do this when I am cooking for a big group of people and have very little time.

Ingredients:

3 pds Presliced pre cooked ham (can be found in the deli freezer or in any meat section of your fav supermarket)

2 jars of Black and Crossley ham Glazed (this ham glaze is found in your condiment section of your fav supermarket and it is complete with all ingredients that a homemade glaze has)

1 can of pineapple slices

In a baking pan place the slices of ham , add the jar of ham glaze to cover completey the ham follow that with pineapple. Cover the pan and cook for about 30 min at 350degrees and there is your ham all ready for the hungry crowd...

This can be served with a light sprinkle of veggies or just buttery corn on the cob..

Buen Provecho!