Memorable Quotes:

"A Bearnaise sauce is simply an egg yolk, a shallot, a little tarragon vinegar and butter, but it takes years of practice for the result to be perfect." Fernand Point

Mac-N-Cheese

A classic baked macaroni and cheese with a creamy cheddar sauce, a touch of dry mustard and smoked paprika, and plenty of crisp bacon. Using both medium and aged cheddar gives the sauce a nice balance of creaminess and sharper cheese flavor.



Servings: 5–6
Prep Time: About 20 minutes
Cook Time: 25–30 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 8 ounces (½ pound or about 1¾ cups) macaroni or other medium tubular pasta, such as penne or conchiglie
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon dry mustard
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ⅛ teaspoon smoked paprika, plus additional for sprinkling
  • 2½ cups 2% milk
  • 3 cups grated medium cheddar cheese
  • ½ cup grated aged cheddar cheese
  • 4–5 slices bacon, cooked until crisp and crumbled

Instructions:

  1. Cook the pasta in boiling salted water until al dente according to package directions. Drain and rinse briefly with cool water to stop the cooking. Set aside.
  2. Preheat oven to 375°F.
  3. Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
  4. Add the flour, salt, dry mustard, black pepper and ⅛ teaspoon smoked paprika. Cook, stirring constantly, for about 3 minutes.
  5. Gradually whisk in the milk.
  6. Continue cooking over medium heat, whisking constantly, for about 10 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened.
  7. Remove from the heat and stir in 2 cups of the medium cheddar, mixing until melted and smooth.
  8. Pour the cheese sauce over the cooked pasta and gently toss until evenly coated.
  9. Spoon half of the macaroni and cheese into a 2-quart casserole dish.
  10. Sprinkle with half of the remaining cheeses.
  11. Add the remaining macaroni and cheese and top with the remaining cheeses.
  12. Dust the top lightly with additional smoked paprika.
  13. Bake for 25–30 minutes, until hot and bubbling and the top is beginning to brown slightly.
  14. Sprinkle the crumbled bacon over individual servings and serve hot.

Tip: If the cooked pasta needs to sit before you make the cheese sauce, toss it with a small amount of butter to keep the noodles from sticking together.

Source: Not provided