Baked Pasta with Peas, Cheese and Ham

Ingredients

• 0.8 cup ham smoked diced
• 1 teaspoon mustard dry
• 0.3 cup flour all-purpose
• 1 cup half-and-half 
• 3 cups mild cheddar shredded low-fat
• 2 cups milk 
• 1.5 cups peas frozen
• 12 ounces penne pasta 
• 6 servings salt 
• 1.5 cups saltines crushed ( 25)
• 4 tablespoons butter unsalted

Equipment

• frying pan
• oven
• whisk
• pot

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400F. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil.
2. Add pasta and cook until just tender, about 8 minutes.
3. Drain and set aside.
4. Melt 3 Tbsp. butter in a large ovenproof skillet over medium heat.
5. Whisk in flour, mustard and 1/2 tsp. salt until smooth. Slowly whisk in milk and half-and-half and bring just to a simmer. Stir in cheese, a little at a time, until melted.
6. Remove pan from heat and stir in peas, ham and pasta. Stir to coat with sauce.
7. Sprinkle cracker crumbs over top of pasta and dot with remaining 1 Tbsp. butter.
8. Bake until bubbling, about 20 minutes.