Recipe 37 & 38: Simple Cheesy Pasta, Complex Macaroni Cheese

"Cheat!" I hear you say - Well, not really. When you think about it all recipes are loosely based off one another. So in this blog entry I am going to provide the simple, 10 minute Macaroni Cheese and the more complex one, which I also have tried but on more rare occasions as it takes a bit longer and to be honest if I am grasping at straws for a meal - I generally want the quick version!
I haven't included mushrooms in either recipe as I am not a huge fan on fungi, but obviously this can be added aswell.

Recipe 37: Simple Cheesy Pasta

2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp plain flour
2 cups milk
1 tsp chilli powder 
2 cups grated tasty cheese
1 cup shredded ham
2 cups of cooked pasta (e.g. spirals, macaroni, penne)
salt and pepper to taste

METHOD

1. Melt butter in a saucepan. Stir in flour and cook until frothy.
2. Gradually add milk, stirring constantly until sauce boils and thickens.
3. Reduce heat, add chilli and grated cheese. When cheese has melted, add ham and cooked pasta, stir to combine.
4. Season with salt and pepper to taste serves 4

Recipe 38: Complex Macaroni Cheese

2 tbsp butter2 tbsp plain flour
1 small onion, finely diced
2 cups milk
1/2 tsp dry mustard
2 cups grated tasty cheese
1 cup shredded ham

2 cups of cooked pasta (e.g. spirals, macaroni, penne)
1 cup breadcrumbs

salt and pepper to taste

METHOD

1. Melt butter in a saucepan. Add onion and cook until clear.Stir in flour and cook until frothy.
2. Add mustard powder, gradually add milk, stirring constantly until sauce boils and thickens.
3. Remove from heat, add 1 cup grated cheese.  When cheese has melted, add ham and cooked pasta, stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
4. pour mixture into an oven proof dish. Sprinkle the cup of breadcrumbs over the the top of the mixture and add the remaining cheese to the top aswell.
5. Cook at 190c for 20 minutes or until golden and heated through. serves 4