recipe of the week: ny deli mac & cheese

adapted slightly, but pretty much rachael ray's recipe (found here)

ny deli mac & cheese

1 pound pasta (i typically use elbow macaroni)

3 tablespoons butter

1 tablespoon or so of italian seasoning

3 tablespoons flour

2 cups chicken broth

1 cup skim milk

8 oz sharp cheddar cheese

8 oz mild cheddar cheese

1/4 cup spicy deli or german mustard

1/2 pound pastrami, chopped roughly

6 slices rye bread

cook pasta according to package directions. 

meanwhile, heat a large skillet or saucepan and add the butter and italian seasoning.  when butter is melted, whisk in flour and cook for a minute before adding the chicken stock, milk and mustard.

 toast up the rye bread slices

 then pulse them in a food processor

 remove and set aside in bowl, then also chop the pastrami in the food processor

 shred cheese and mix well

 once liquids on stove have heated through, stir cheese* in a figure eight motion until melted and smooth
*but reserve just a bit of the cheese 

 add pastrami

 place cooked pasta in baking dish

 pour cheese mixture over noodles

 yum

 top with toasted rye crumbs

 add reserved cheese

 bake at 400゜ until browned and bubbling

and watch your husband enjoy :-)