Hearty Macaroni & Cheese

You can easily turn this Hearty Macaroni & Cheese into a budget-stretching one-dish meal. Simply add 1 cup chopped ham, 1/2 cup corn kernels and 1/2 cup peas in step 2. Mix well and bake as recipe directs.

Ingredients

1 cup macaroni

1 cup milk

4 Tbsp butter or margarine

1 cup soft bread cubes

1 whole canned pimiento, chopped (about 1 tablespoon)

1 Tbsp chopped green onions

1 1/2 cup cubed Cheddar cheese (about 12 ounces)

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1/4 tsp paprika

3 eggs, beaten

Directions

1. Grease a 1-quart baking dish. Cook macaroni according to package directions. Drain. Bring milk almost to a boil in a small saucepan. Remove from heat. Add butter. Stir until melted.

2. Combine milk mixture and bread cubes in a medium bowl. Add pimiento, green onions, Cheddar, salt, pepper, paprika and eggs to bowl. Stir gently to mix.

3. Preheat oven to 350°F. Spread macaroni in prepared baking dish. Pour bread mixture over macaroni.

4. Bake macaroni until browned and bubbly, about 45 minutes.