You’re in college now so it’s time to break away from boxed mac ’n’ cheese and try the real thing. It’s not hard to make and once you realize how creamy and cheesy the homemade version tastes, you’ll never go back to that boxed stuff. We added ham to this dish, but you could make it without the ham or with cooked chicken or broccoli. Hey, don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it. Who doesn’t love cheesy broccoli?

　　

Ingredients

serves 6

　　1 pound uncooked macaroni

　　2 tablespoons butter

　　2 tablespoons flour

　　2 cups milk

　　1 pound sliced American cheese

　　1/2 pound lean ham

　　

Step 1

Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook, stirring occasionally, for 7 to 10 minutes, until al dente. Drain the macaroni in a colander.

　　

Step 2

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly coat a large baking dish or pan with oil or cooking spray.

　　

Step 3

Melt the butter in the same saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and stir constantly until the mixture starts to bubble. (Do not let the mixture brown or your sauce will have a brown tinge to it.) Add about 1/2 cup of the milk and stir until smooth. Add the remaining milk and cook, stirring frequently, for 10 to 15 minutes, until it comes to a boil. Remove the pan from the heat, add the cheese, and stir until the cheese is completely melted.

　　

Step 4

Cut the ham into 1/2-inch cubes and stir into the cheese sauce. Add the macaroni and stir gently until it is completely coated with the cheese.

　　

Step 5

Place the mixture in a large baking dish and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the cheese is bubbly. Remove from the oven and serve immediately.

　　College Cooking