Macaroni And Cheese

Total Time: 45 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 16 ounces macaroni, cooked according to package
• 3 3/4 cups milk, hot
• 8 tablespoons butter, divided
• 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• salt and pepper
• 4 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded and divided
• 1/2 cup heavy cream or 1/2 cup half-and-half
• 1/2 cup fresh breadcrumb

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 350°f
• 2 butter a 13 x 9 baking dish and set aside.
• 3 in large pot, melt 6 tablespoons of the butter over medium low heat and add flour.
• 4 cook, stirring constantly, for 3 - 4 minutes. (flour must foam in order to cook the raw flour taste out. do not let your flour burn.).
• 5 add cayenne pepper, salt and pepper and mix well.
• 6 raise heat to medium high and gradually add in hot milk.
• 7 bring to a hard simmer, and cook and stir constantly for 3 - 5 minutes, until mixture thickens.
• 8 remove from heat and stir in 2 cups of the shredded cheese until melted.
• 9 stir in cooked, drained macaroni.
• 10 sprinkle 3/4 cup of the remaining cheese in bottom of prepared baking dish.
• 11 add half of the cheese and pasta mixture, spreading evenly.
• 12 add 3/4 cup shredded cheese to that, and repeat with remaining pasta mixture.
• 13 top casserole with remaining cheese.
• 14 pour heavy cream (or half and half) over top of casserole.
• 15 in small frying pan, melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter and add fresh bread crumbs, coating thoroughly and toasting slightly.
• 16 sprinkle evenly over top of macaroni and cheese.
• 17 bake uncovered for 30 minutes.