just the two of us

apple-bacon mac & cheese

in a skillet cook 6 bacon slices.  crumble; set aside.  discard all but 1 tbsp. drippings, add 3 chopped apples & 1 chopped onion, & cook 5mins; set aside.  melt 2 tbsp. butter in skillet.  stir in  2 tbsp. flour & 1/4 tsp.black pepper.  add 2 cups milk.  cook until thickened.  stir in 2 tsp. dijon mustard, 1 cup shredded white cheddar, & 1 cup shredded smoked gouda until melted.  stir in 8oz. cooked shell macaroni, apples, & half the bacon.  transfer to a baking sish.  bake in a 350 degreesF oven 30mins.  top w/remaining bacon.

berry crisp spiral ham

1 8-lb, cooked spiral-sliced ham, liquid reserved

1 cup orange juice

1/2 cup seedlessd raspberry jam

1 cup fresh raspberries

1/2 cup honey

1 jalpeno chile pepper, stemmed, thinly slice, & seeded

1.  preheat oven to 325degreesF. place ham, slices up, on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. set aside. for berry glaze, in a medium sauce pan combine reserved ham liquid. orange juice, jam, berries, honey, & jalapeno. bring to boiling. reduce heat. slimmer, uncovered, 15mins or until syrupy, stirring. brush some of the glaze over  the ham.

2. cover ham loosely w/foil. bake 1hr & 20mins or until heated through, brushing w/glaze.

3. increase oven temperature to 425 degreesF. remove foil from ham. spoon remaining glaze over top & sides. bake 10mins more or untila top of ham is crispy & inner ham is heated through (140degreesF). remove; let stand 10mins b4 serving. serve w/additional raspberries.