Cheesy Pasta

 Sauce:

1/4 cup butter

1/4 cup flour

1/2 - 1 t salt (to taste, we like a full teaspoon)

pepper

2 cups milk

3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Mix-ins:

1/2 onion, chopped finely

1 bag frozen peas, cooked in the microwave

ham, I usually just cut 10 or so slices of deli ham into squares because that is what we have on hand

Pasta, we love small shells

Instructions:

Start water boiling in large pot for pasta. Add pasta and cook to al dente according to package directions.

Get the onions sautéing in a little olive oil or butter while starting the sauce in another pan.

Make the sauce by melting butter in a medium saucepan. Stir in flour, salt and pepper and stir for 1-2 minutes. Add milk all at once and cook, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens and bubbles. Turn off heat and add cheese.

Once onions are sautéed, set aside in a little bowl, and sauté the ham bits in the same pan until a little caramelized.

When pasta is done, mix in the sauce, cooked peas, and the sauteed ham and onions.

Enjoy.

This is many of my children's favorite meal. It is also the first I tasted of Jared's cooking skills. He had made a big pot one evening and offered some to me soon after we had first met. I was impressed with this homemade version of cheesy pasta.