World's Greatest Macaroni and Cheese

I developed this recipe for a tasty, nutritional mac-n-cheese meal for my husband and me. It's also a good way to get spinach into kids!

• Ready In: 1 hr
• Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

• 2  cups  whole wheat macaroni
• 3  tablespoons butter or 3  tablespoons  oil
• 1  medium onion, chopped
• 1  medium leek, halved and sliced
• 1  tablespoon garlic, minced
• 2  cups ham, diced
• 1 (10 ounce) box frozen spinach, thawed and drained well
• 3  tablespoons flour
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1  teaspoon pepper
• 1  tablespoon turmeric
• 2 1⁄2 cups milk
• 1 1⁄2 cups  shredded cheddar cheese, divided
• 1  tomatoes, sliced

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Prepare macaroni as directed on box and drain in colander.
3. Heat butter and/or oil in large skillet. Add onions and leeks and sauté until tender. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add ham and spinach and heat through.
4. Add flour, salt, pepper and turmeric, and cook for 30 seconds until flour is cooked through, stirring constantly. Add milk slowly, stirring constantly. Cook and stir until thick and bubbly.
5. Stir in 1 cup cheese until melted. Pour into 13x9 baking dish. Top with sliced tomato and remaining ½ cup cheese.
6. Bake for 30 minutes.
7. •Variation: substitute 2 diced chicken breast halves for the ham, Swiss cheese for the cheddar cheese, and add 1 4 oz. can mushrooms.