Recipes Now, too

So instead of trying to post actual recipes in the limited space of Face Book comment boxes I am now going to share my new favorites via this blog. First up is one I made for lunch today. It serves 8 but I easily divided it in half (just pay attention to the amounts of milk you are mixing in at different stages). It was absolutely wonderful but very rich tasting. Suggest it as a small serving lunch or if doing for a dinner plan to add a salad or something "healthy" to round out the meal. Had with a glass of Chardonnay. YUM!

Croque Monsieur Mac & Cheese (FoodNetwork Magazine)

½ lb Ziti cooked to al dente
2 cups Milk
2 cup Gruyere – grated
1 cup Parmesan – finely grated
2 Eggs
3 Slices White Bread – roughly diced
2 Tbsp Unsalted Butter (plus more for greasing dish)
1 med Onion – chopped
1 Garlic Clove – minced
3 Tbsp Flour
8 oz Deli Ham – thinly sliced
cayenne pepper, nutmeg, salt


Toss cooked pasta with ¼ cup milk and set aside. Combine both cheeses in a bowl. Beat ¼ cup milk and the eggs in another bowl, fold in bread and add half of cheese. Melt butter over high heat and add onion and garlic, cook till just brown (2 minutes). Add flour, pinch of cayenne, 1/8 tsp nutmeg and 1 tsp of salt, cook, stirring for 2 minutes. Slowly add ¾ cup water and remaining 1.5 cups of milk. Bring to boil and stir till thickened. Remove from heat, whisk to cool slightly and stir in remaining cheese, then stir in pasta. Butter a shallow casserole dish and layer in half of pasta cheese mixture. Top with half of ham, then remaining pasta and remaining ham. Top with bread and cheese mixture. Bake at 425 F for 20 minutes till golden and bubbly. Let rest a couple of minutes before serving.