Really Good Mac & Cheese

Name: Really Good Mac & Cheese
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 8 cups
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3 Tbsp butter; 1/4 c all-purpose flour; 1 bay leaf; 3 c milk; 1 Tbsp dijon mustard; salt and cayenne pepper, to taste; 2 c shredded chedder cheese, preferably aged; 2 c elbow macaroni; 1 Tbsp butter, melted; 1 c soft bread crumbs

By Nancy Allen
@mawmawnan

This is a classic old school mac & cheese

Rating:

★★★★★ 1 vote5

Comments:

2 Comments

Serves:

8 cups

Prep:

30 Min

Cook:

25 Min

Method:

Bake

Ingredients

3 Tbsp

butter
1/4 c

all-purpose flour
1

bay leaf
3 c

milk
1 Tbsp

dijon mustard
·

salt and cayenne pepper, to taste
2 c

shredded chedder cheese, preferably aged
2 c

elbow macaroni
1 Tbsp

butter, melted
1 c

soft bread crumbs
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How to Make Really Good Mac & Cheese

Step-by-Step

In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Blend in flour and add bay leaf; cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Pour in 1 cup milk, whisking constantly, until mixture comes to a boil and is very thick. Pour in rest of milk in a slow stream, whisking constantly, until sauce comes to a full boil and is smooth. Whisk in mustard.
Reduce heat to low; stir in cheese until melted. Remove bay leaf; season with salt and a dash of cayenne pepper to taste. Remove from heat.
Meanwhile, in a large pot of boiling salted water, cook macaroni for 8 minutes or until just tender. (do not over cook; pasta continues to cook in sauce) Drain well. Stir into cheese sauce until well coated.
Spoon into prepared casserole dish. In a bowl, toss 1 Tbsp. melted butter with bread crumbs; sprinkle over top. Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes or until bubbly and top is lightly browned.

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