Sure to Be a Family Favorite: Ham & Pasta Bake

This recipe is a Frick family favorite.  It found its way into the family back when Mark went to visit his sister in England, and she made it for him.  You can pretty much guarantee that at any major multi-day holiday get together, this dish will make an appearance because it's easy to make, and its a hit with everyone, picky eaters included.

The variation I used for this batch was substituting regular Penne pasta for Mini Penne (sounds like the secretary from a Bond movie: Moneypenney!  Okay, stay with me people... I'm not crazy... as I chuckle over my own joke.)  I also used the Mini Penne because I hate having to cut everything up all the time for small toddler fingers.

After starting to eat his portion, Mr. Leighton turned into Ponyo (who loved ham and would eat the ham out of all of the sandwiches) as he started picking out all of the ham and demanding the ham from our plates too, even snatching pieces of ham off my plate that I didn't even see.  After I cut the ham addict off, he finally proceeded to eat his noodles...





Ham & Pasta Bake
Ingredients:

• 8 oz Penne pasta (I like to use a whole 10 oz box because I hate having a few ounces leftover... and I compensate by adding a little bit more of the everything else - note the variation in the ingredient portions)
• 10 oz ham, cubed (they sell pre-cubed ham at the store, but it comes in an 8 oz portion)
• 3 - 4  eggs, slightly beaten (depending on how much pasta you're going to use)
• 3/4 - 1 pint of heavy whipping cream (I use half and half because it's a little healthier)
• 5 oz.+ Gruyere cheese, grated (I know that cheese sounds snooty, but I can get it at my local CUB Foods, and yes, it smells a little like feet, but it ends up tasting really good)
• 2 - 3 oz. Parmesan cheese, grated
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Cook pasta according to directions
2. Preheat oven to 375.
3. Drain pasta, and return it to pan.  Add all of the other ingredients, and pour into a greased 9 x 13" pan.
4. Bake for 40 minutes until the pasta on the top starts to look yummy and crispy.

Trust me, your family will love this one.  Let me know if you try it!

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