Category
Pasta is what is for dinner!
Author:
Martha Stewart
I have only prepared this recipe from Martha Stewart for Mac and Cheese. I find it easy to prepare, and it makes a lot of cheesy pasta! We usually have it for dinner one night and freeze the rest for leftovers. It makes the perfect ooey-gooey dish. Make it over and over, and you will not be disappointed.
Ingredients
6 slices good-quality white bread, crusts removed, torn into 1/4- to 1/2-inch pieces
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, plus more for dish
5 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
4 1/2 cups (about 18 ounces) grated sharp white cheddar
2 cups (about 8 ounces) grated Gruyere or 1 1/4 cups (about 5 ounces) grated pecorino Romano
1 pound elbow macaroni
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1/2 lb of Circle B Ranch Hickory Smoked bacon crispy cooked-crumble the bacon
Directions
Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Butter a 3-quart casserole dish; set aside.
Place bread pieces in a medium bowl. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons butter. Pour butter into the bowl with bread, and toss. Set the breadcrumbs aside.
In a medium saucepan set over medium heat, heat milk.
Melt remaining 6 tablespoons butter in a high-sided skillet over medium heat. When butter bubbles, add flour. Cook, stirring, 1 minute.
Slowly pour hot milk into flour-butter mixture while whisking. Continue cooking, whisking constantly, until the mixture bubbles and becomes thick.
Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in salt, nutmeg, black pepper, cayenne pepper, 3 cups cheddar, and 1 1/2 cups Gruyere or 1 cup pecorino Romano. Set cheese sauce aside.
Fill a large saucepan with water. Bring to a boil. Add macaroni; cook 2 to 3 fewer minutes than manufacturer's directions, until outside of pasta is cooked and inside is underdone. (Different brands of macaroni cook at different rates; be sure to read the instructions.)
Transfer the macaroni to a colander, rinse under cold running water, and drain well. Stir macaroni into the reserved cheese sauce.
Add the 1/2 the bacon to the mac and cheese mixture.
Pour the mixture into the prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle remaining 1 1/2 cups cheddar and 1/2 cup Gruyere or 1/4 cup pecorino Romano; scatter breadcrumbs and crumbled bacon over the top. Bake until browned on top, about 30 minutes. Transfer dish to a wire rack.
Recipe Note
You can easily divide this recipe in half; use a 1 1/2-quart casserole dish if you do.