Crab and Country Ham Pasta

Ingredients

• 1 lb. fresh pasta(fettucine is best)
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup milk
• 3/4 cup light cream or half-and-half
• 3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons dry sherry, optional
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper or to taste
• Salt
• Pepper
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1/4 pound cooked country ham, cut in julienne strips *
• 1 bunch green onions, chopped
• 1/2 pound crab meat, all shells removed
• 1 red pepper, cut in julienne strips

Directions

*(Use an authentic, salt-cured country ham.)Cook pasta according to package directions; keep warm. Make sauce by melting butter over low heat in skillet; Add flour and blend with whisk to form a roux. Cook over medium heat for 2 minutes. DO NOT BURN. Remove from heat ; whisk in milk and cream. Return to heat; add cheese, sherry(if desired), cayenne pepper and salt and pepper. If mixture becomes too thick, add more milk and cream. Keep warm. In another skillet, saute ham and onions in vegetable oil for 2 minutes over medium heat. Add crab and pepper strips; saute for 1 minute. Stir crab mixture into sauce. Serve over hot, drained pasta as an appetizer or as a main dish.

Submitted 6/13/05.
Source: The Best of Country Cooking
Submitted By: Linda Wilson
lwilson@gatecom.com
Crab and Country Ham Pasta