Quick, think of a meat that’s full of protein, iron, and B vitamins. It has to be super tasty and versatile, meaning that you could have this meat at anytime of the day or year with any type of meal. Oh, and it also has to promote weight loss. Figured it out yet? No, it’s not some magical new food storage product. It’s ham!

Yes, that’s right. Not only is ham extremely delicious, it’s also full of all the same healthy ingredients that beef, chicken, and turkey have, is extremely versatile, and yup, even promotes healthy weight loss. How you ask? For starters, ham is considered a filling food. That means that when you include ham in your regular diet, you feel more satisfied and stay fuller longer. This helps eliminate the need for frequent snacking. Less snacking means less intake, which in turn means quicker weight loss.
Let’s get back to how versatile ham really is. Ham is one of the few meats that you can eat at any meal. Whether it’s mixed in with a delicious breakfast casserole, served cool on a lunchtime sandwich, or baked up with a delicious maple glaze for dinner, ham can be used anytime, anywhere. No wonder we love it so much.
Honeyville Freeze Dried Ham may be the perfect addition to your food storage pantry. Including a meat as versatile and as widely accepted by any family member (who doesn’t love ham?) may be the smartest preparation move you make. You can use this meat in anything, including this American classic, Macaroni and Cheese. Check out this delicious recipe below, combining some of your favorite Honeyville food storage items, including our Honeyville Freeze Dried Ham!

Ham Macaroni & Cheese

Ingredients:
4 cups Honeyville Dehydrated Elbow Macaroni (or 1 lb Macaroni)
3 Tbsp Butter
2 cups Whole Milk
1 cup Breadcrumbs
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Re-hydrate ham by soaking it in a large bowl. Once ham is soft, drain excess water.
Cook Pasta by bringing a large pot of water to a boil, then adding dried pasta. Cook until al dente (or not quite finished) or about 10 minutes or so. Drain pasta, and set aside.
In a large saucepan or pot, melt butter over medium heat, or until butter is foamy.
Whisk in flour.
Slowly whisk in milk. Continue whisking occasionally, until sauce becomes thick.
Add monterey jack cheese, turn off heat, and stir sauce until cheese is melted and sauce is thick. 
Don’t worry about re-hydrating the cheese, it will melt just fine in the sauce.
Combine ham and pasta in a large casserole dish.
Pour sauce over the top of the pasta and ham.
Gently stir in sauce with pasta and ham.
Make sure the sauce is evenly distributed among the pasta.
Take 1 cup of breadcrumbs and gently sprinkle on top of the pasta.
I went with an Italian blend of breadcrumbs to give it more flavor, but any brand will work.
Bake in oven at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.
Remove, scoop out, and serve.
Let me start out by saying this is not your Grandma’s Macaroni and Cheese! The delicious blend of monterey cheddar and smokey ham give this pasta a grown up taste, while still making it appealing for any kid at heart. 
The breadcrumbs give it the perfect crunch and texture, along with a little added flavor from the seasoning. No need serving this as a side dish. It’s definitely a hearty meal that will fill up the whole family!
You’ve seen how we use the Honeyville Freeze Dried Ham, now it’s your turn. What’s your favorite Food Storage ham recipe?