Ham Hock Mac and Cheese

Ingredients

serves 8

• 1 lb macaroni noodles
• 10 oz of diced/cubed ham hock (can also use thick cut bacon or other cuts of ham)
• 1/4 cup of heavy whipping cream
• 1 tsp butter
• 1 1/2 cups parmesan cheese (not the sawdust stuff)
• 2 cups shredded white cheddar or provolone or monterey jack
• 1 whole onion, sliced into rings
• salt and pepper
• 1/2 tablespoon oil

Cooking

1. slice onions and place them in a frying on with the oil very low heat. do this before anything because you want the onions to cook for at least 20 - 25 minutes until golden brown and semi crisp.
2. after about 10 - 15 minutes, add the macaroni to boiling salted water and boil for a few minutes or until noodles are aldente (10 minutes for me). in another frying pan, add in the ham hock/choice of meat and fry and add salt and pepper. stir for a few minutes on medium heat and then remove from heat once meat is cooked.
3. in the now drained pot the noodles were boil in, add in the butter and heavy whipping cream. bring to a semi boil. once the cream starts to bubble, reduce heat to low and simmer. add in 1 cup of parmesan and stir. continue to stir for a bit and while stirring add in the provolone/jack/white cheddar. at this point, add in the noodles and hamhock and continue to stir for another minute or two or until cheese is completely melted and combined with the noodles.
4. serve: scoop a good portion on to a plate or in a bowl and with the remaining parmesan, sprinkle over each serving. place onions over each serving as well.

bon appetit