Ham Stuffed Manicotti

Ingredients:
•14 manicotti shells
•1 onion, chopped
•2 cloves minced garlic
•¼ cup butter
•3 cups cubed ham
•1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
•6 Tbsp. butter
•6 Tbsp. flour
•3 cups milk
•½ tsp. pepper
•2 cups shredded Swiss cheese
•½ cup grated parmesan cheese

Method:
Cook manicotti as directed. (Half the time if freezing.) Drain and set aside. Sauté onion and garlic in butter. Add ham and cook for a few minutes. Set aside to cool slightly. Stir 1/3 cup parmesan cheese into ham mixture.
In a saucepan, melt 6 tablespoons butter. Stir in flour and heat until bubbly. Add milk and pepper. Whisk while cooking on medium to medium high heat until thickened. Stir in Swiss and remaining parmesan cheese. Mix ¼ of this cheese sauce with the ham mixture. Fill the manicotti shells with ham mixture. (A baby spoon works great to get the mixture into the shells without making such a mess.) If freezing, see directions below. Otherwise, spread half of the remaining cheese sauce in the bottom of a greased 9X13 pan. Place filled shells in pan and cover with remaining sauce. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Freezing directions: Spread half of the remaining cheese sauce in the bottom of a greased disposable pan. Place filled shells in pan and cover with remaining sauce. Cover and freeze.