Cheese and Ham Casserole

½ cup celery
½ cup boiling water
¼ cup green pepper, chopped
1 cup milk
1 8-oz pkg cream cheese
½ tsp salt
½ tsp garlic powder
½ cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
2 cups cooked ham, diced
½ lb pkg noodles, cooked and drained

Cook celery and pepper in boiling water for 5 minutes. Drain. Gradually add milk to cream cheese blending til smooth. Place over low heat and stir til heated. Add seasonings and half of Parmesan cheese, ham, celery, peppers, mix well. Pour sauce over noodles and toss. Place in buttered casserole dish. Put rest of cheese on top and cover. Bake 350º for 30 to 35 minutes.

This is a recipe that we made for a luncheon we had for our mothers my junior year in Miss Graney's home economics class. Mom liked it so much that she’s been making it ever since, and, yes, that is a lot of years!—Mary