Cheesy pasta casserole
Since Three Times a Day was launched, time has been flying by and every day is different. I am so passionate about what I do that I rarely stop to take time out for myself. I feel like any moment spent relaxing is a waste of time or a missed opportunity to be productive elsewhere.
You’re probably wondering what all of this has to do with mac & cheese, but bear with me: when I was making this dish, I remembered all the times my brother and I went to our grandma’s to eat homemade macaroni & cheese. Life was perfect. We didn’t have a care in the world and we found peace in simply living in the moment and being ourselves.
I think we lose that feeling as we grow up. We don’t stop to smell the roses because we let others define us and feel the need to impress them. When I was eating my mac & cheese this week, I took a moment to say hi to the little Marilou in me, and promised her I’d do that more often.
Life is like a cheesy pasta bake: on the outside, it’s crusty and even a little hard in some places. But when you get past the tough parts, you’ll realize it’s full of goodness.
Particularities
- ServesServes 4–6
- Prep time15 min
- Cook time50 min
- Timeout-
- FreezingNe se congèle pas.
Ingredients
- 400g of penne
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup onion, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup flour
- 2 1/4 cups milk
- 1 cup of cooking cream (15% or 35%)
- 4 cups grated cheese of your choice (I like Kraft’s four-cheese Italiano mix)
- 1 cup cooked ham (or bacon), roughly chopped
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Steps
- Preheat the oven to 400˚F.
- Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.
- In a pot, melt the butter and soften the onion for 3–4 minutes. Season.
- Add the flour and stir for a few seconds. Do not brown the flour.
- Gradually add 3/4 cup milk while whisking. Add the cream and remaining milk. Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Add 2 cups cheese and mix until texture is smooth.
- Add the pasta and ham, mix well, and pour the mixture into an oven-safe pan or dish.
- Cover with leftover cheese and bake for 20 minutes or until the cheese is nicely browned.
