Creamy Spring Pasta Bake

Things have been busy lately.  It is hard to believe spring is already here.  Beautiful colors, flowers, delicious fresh produce from the garden, and of course allergies.

The recipe I am posting today is a Pasta Bake.  I love to make pasta bakes.  They are one of my favorite casseroles.  They are easy to prepare, great for the budget, can feed a large crowd, and taste great the next day.  I found this recipe in Southern Living magazine.  Bow-tie pasta is coated in a rich cheese sauce made with Swiss cheese, dry mustard, and spices.  Add some sweet peas, and ham, mix well so everything is coated in the rich creamy sauce.  Transfer to a baking dish and top with some ground croutons and Parmesan cheese.  Bake for about 30 minutes. 

The Pasta Bake is ready to serve.  This recipe will satisfy everyone.  The sauce is delicious and the addition of peas and ham make this perfect for family and company.  

Creamy Spring Pasta Bake
From Southern Living Magazine

Ingredients

Pasta

1/2 cup (4 oz.) salted butter

1/2 cup (2 oz.) all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons dry mustard

1 teaspoon table salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

2 cups half-and-half

2 cups whole milk

1 (16-oz.) block Swiss cheese, shredded

2 ounces Parmesan cheese, shredded (about 2/3 cup)

1 (16-oz.) pkg. farfalle (bow-tie pasta), prepared according to pkg. directions

1 (12-oz.) pkg. cubed boneless ham (about 2 cups)

1 1/2 cups frozen baby sweet peas, thawed 

Topping 

1 cup sea salt-and-pepper croutons

2 ounces Parmesan cheese, shredded (about 2/3 cup)

1 tablespoon butter, melted 

 

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Melt butter in a Dutch oven over medium. Gradually whisk in flour until smooth; cook, whisking constantly, 2 minutes. Whisk in dry mustard, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Gradually whisk in half-and-half and milk; cook, whisking constantly, until thickened, 8 to 10 minutes.
2. Whisk in Swiss cheese and 2 oz. Parmesan cheese. Remove from heat. Stir in pasta, ham, and peas. Pour mixture into a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish.
3. Prepare Topping: Process croutons and 2 oz. Parmesan cheese in a food processor until finely ground. Add 1 tablespoon melted butter, and process until combined. Sprinkle over pasta mixture.
4. Bake in preheated oven until golden, about 30 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes.

Serves 8

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