Baked Mac & Cheese

1/2 pund elbow macaroni
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
1 tablesppoon powdered mustard
3 cups milk
1/2 cup yellow onion finely diced
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 large egg
12 ounces sharp cheddar, shredded (i use about 14 to almost a whole 16ounce brick of cheese)
1teaspoon kosher salt
1-2 cups of diced precooked ham

Topping:
3 tablesspoons butter
1 cup italian bread crumbs

Preheat oven to 350"f

In a large pot of boiliing and saleted water cook your pasta to al dente

While pasta is cooking in a sepeate pot melt the butter, Whisk in flour and mustard and keep it moving for about 5 mins. make sure its free of lumps. Stir in mlk onion bay leaf and paprika(i usually have milk paprika and onion in one of my measuring cups mixed and ready to just pour in helps save a lil time) Simmer for 10 minutes an remove bay leaf

Temper in Egg. stir in 3/4 of the cheese season with a bit of salt and pepper. Starin your noodles and fold macaroni into the mix along with your diced ham and pour into a 2 quart casserole dish. Top with remianing cheese.

Topping: Melt butter in a saute pan (or a small frying pan) add in bread crumbs and toss to coat top the macaroni withthe bread crumbs. Bake for 30 mins. Remove from oven and rest for 5 minutes before serving.

***please note this recipie is a bit of work but boy is it worth itive had family and friends ask me for the recipie after serving this every time. my husband and daughter love it so i make it usually atleast once a month as a treat.