Macaroni & Cheese, Deluxe

By arthurlemay

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound sharp cheddar cheese, grated
• 3/4 pound macaroni
• 8 tablespoons butter
• 4 tablespoons King Arthur flour
• 2 cups milk
• 1 cup heay cream
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1/3 cup bread crumbs

Details

Servings 6
Preparation time 25mins
Cooking time 55mins

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large pot of boiling water, cook the pasta until it is al dente. Drain, rinse in cold water and set aside.

melt 4 tablespoons butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat, Whisk in the flour and cook until it is just combined. Slowly add the milk, whisking constantly so the flour absorbs the milk without lumping. When about half the milk has been added, you can add the rest at a faster rate,but continue to whisk constantly. When the sauce begins to boil, reduce the heat to low and simmer until the sauce is cooked through, about 3-4 more minutes. Remove the pan from the heatand add the grated cheese. Whisk vigorously until the cheese has melted. Then whissk in the heavy cream ans season to taste with the salt and cayenne pepper.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the sauce with the macaroni. Transfer the mixture to a 13-by-9-inch baking dish, spreading it out evenly. Sprinkle the bread crumbs on top and dot with the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter.

Bake in a 350 degree oven until hot and bubbly, about 30 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.