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Baked Ham Rigatoni

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 My Name is Tina Butler; I am 43 year old Stay at Home Mother of three. My days are filled with raising kids, keeping up with my home front and doing what I love most, cooking and baking. I started Mommy's Kitchen back in May of 2008, I really just wanted an outlet to share all my favorite recipes. I cannot believe the response my site has recieved. You see our family relies on one income, so eating out to often can be an expense that we just cannot afford. I believe, some families eat outside of the home entirely too much. The amount of money you spend on fast food definitely adds up quickly. I think a lot of families have forgotten how important it is to cook at home and to eat together as a family. I want to show my readers that it is possible to cook good food at home. In Mommy’s Kitchen I truly believe that the kitchen is not only where family meals are prepared, but also where memories are made with your children to last a lifetime. My kids share the same joy of cooking as I do, so you can always find them in the kitchen helping me out. I’m just a mom cooking in my kitchen and passing down that love to my children. Nothing frilly, nothing fancy because my kid’s wont eat it. Just basic everyday home cooking, there’s no better. My site has step by step recipes in full photographic tutorial so anyone can prepare great home cooked meals for their own family. Click here to visit Mommy’s Kitchen.

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If you have a love for pasta and cheese then Baked Ham Rigatoni is the recipe for you. One of my weaknesses is “Pasta” oh how I could eat it everyday, add some cheese and that just makes it that much better. I saw this recipe for Baked Ham Rigatoni at Recipes of a Cheapskate. At first glimpse I knew I had to make it all that cheesy pasta with a homemade white sauce, it just looked to good to pass up. This dish was so fast and easy to throw together and everyone loved it. I mean how can you go wrong with pasta and cheese, plus this dish is pretty inexpensive to make as well. I get a bit nervous sometimes when I have to make my own creamy white sauce. I always think I am going to mess it up, but I didn’t it turned out perfect. Serve with a salad and some crusty french bread, definitely comfort food at it’s best. I will be making this dish again.

BAKED HAM RIGATONI

1 pkg (16 oz) rigatoni pasta
2 – tablespoons real butter (1 oz)
1/2 cup flour
1 qt milk (4 cups)
2 cups grated mozzarella cheese (separated)
about 1/2 lb thinly sliced ham
seasonings
(onion salt, pepper, cayenne pepper is optional)
small pads of butter for top

Preheat oven to 425degrees. Melt butter over medium heat and start water boiling for pasta. Once butter is melted, whisk in flour. Add your milk, and continue to stir until the sauce is thick enough to coat the back of the spoon. When the water is boiling, add pasta and cook until just past the Al-dente stage. Just starting to get soft. When the white sauce is done, add your seasoning, ham, and one cup cheese. stir well, to get the cheese melted. Drain your pasta and add to the sauce. Pour mixture into a greased 9×13 pan, smooth the top and sprinkle with remaining cup of cheese. Dot the top with your pads of butter and bake for about 25 minutes, or until the top is bubbly and brown.

For step by step directions and photos of this recipe and more visit my Recipe Site: Mommy’s Kitchen