Recipe Saturday - The Best Baked Mac & Cheese

Hi All,

Happy Saturday!Thanksgiving is approaching us in just a few short days, and I'm excited to get in the kitchen and cook. I love holidays where I get to feed a crowd, I always feel such a sense of satisfaction watching my family eat the food I cooked for them with love. The recipe I chose for this week is Baked Mac & Cheese, it's one of my favorite foods. I have never served a Thanksgiving dinner without it on the menu. If I had ever attempted to do such a thing, I'm sure there would be a riot in my house. I hope you enjoy this dish as much as we do.

The Best Baked Mac & Cheese

Prep: 20 Min Cook Time: 45 Min Yield: 6 to 8 servings

Ingredients

1/2 pound elbow macaroni

3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
1 tablespoon powdered mustard
3 cups milk
1/2 cup yellow onion, finely diced
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 large egg
12 ounces sharp cheddar, shredded
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Fresh black pepper


Topping:

3 tablespoons butter
1 cup panko bread crumbs


Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

1. In a large pot of boiling, salted water cook the pasta to al dente.


2. While the pasta is cooking, in a separate pot, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour and mustard and keep it moving for about five minutes. Make sure it's free of lumps. Stir in the milk, onion, bay leaf, and paprika. Simmer for ten minutes and remove the bay leaf.

3. Temper in the egg. Stir in 3/4 of the cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Fold the macaroni into the mix and pour into a 2-quart casserole dish. Top with remaining cheese.

4. Melt the butter in a saute pan and toss the bread crumbs to coat. Top the macaroni with the bread crumbs. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and rest for five minutes before serving.

Original Recipe Website

ENJOY!!