Ham Tetrazzini

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter or margarine
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup heated milk
• 1 cup heated chicken broth, low sodium
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 cup dry sherry
• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• 1 pound thin spaghetti
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 8 ounces sliced mushrooms
• 1 small green bell pepper, cut into rings
• 2 cups chopped cooked ham
• 1 large tomato, sliced
• 1/3 cup grated Parmesan or Romano cheese
• 1/2 cup soft buttered bread crumbs

Preparation

Heat 1/2 cup butter in a medium saucepan; blend in 1/2 cup flour. Gradually add milk and broth to flour mixture. Continue cooking, stirring constantly, until sauce is thickened and smooth. Blend in pepper, nutmeg and sherry. Stir in cream and remove mixture from heat.

Cook and drain spaghetti, following package directions. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a medium skillet; sauté mushrooms for about 2 minutes; add green pepper rings and continue cooking and stirring for about 3 minutes longer. Mix ham with sauce, spaghetti, and mushroom mixture. Transfer mixture to a baking dish; arrange tomato slices over top. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese and sprinkle buttered bread crumbs around edge. Bake at 400° for 20 minutes.

Serves 6 to 8.