Made this for dinner the same night I made the Ham/Broccoli/Egg Bake and I think this one was the favorite.  It’s from My Recipes.  It wasn’t hard to make but it took a little time to put together.  It was really good, sort of like a mac n cheese on steroids.

8 ounces pasta

2 cups chopped broccoli

5 tablespoons unsalted butter

1/2 cup panko or other coarse bread crumbs

1/4 cup flour

3 cups low fat milk, at room temperature

1/2 teaspoon paprika

salt and pepper

2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

1/4 cup Parmesan

4 ounces diced ham

1  Preheat oven to 375.  Grease a 9 x 13″ casserole dish.  Bring pot of salted water to boil and cook pasta according to package directions.  During the last 3 – 4 minutes of cooking time, add the broccoli.  Drain, rinse and drain again then pour into casserole dish.

2  In saucepan over medium heat, melt butter.  Remove 1 tablespoon from pan and mix into bread crumbs in a small bowl.  Add flour to melted butter and whisk until smooth and bubbling, about 1 minute.  Slowly whisk in milk, add paprika and season with salt and pepper.  Stir until sauce begins to boil, about 8 minutes then remove from heat.

3  Stir in 1 1/2 cup of the cheddar cheese and all of the Parmesan until smooth then stir in ham.

4  Stir sauce into pasta and broccoli.  Sprinkle with remaining Cheddar cheese and bread crumbs.  Bake until top browns and sauce bubbles, about 30 minutes.