Baked Macaroni with Cheese

By NicoleS

Ingredients

• 2 cups milk
• 1 bay leaf
• 4 Tbsp. butter
• 1/3 cup flour
• 1 1/2 cups grated Parmesan cheese or Cheddar cheese, or a combination of both
• 1/3 cup bread crumbs
• 4 cups short-cut macaroni
• Salt and pepper

Details

Servings 6

Preparation

Step 1

Make a bechamel sauce by gently heating the milk with bay leaf in a small saucepan. Do not let it boil.

In a separate large saucepan, melt the butter. Add the flour, and mix it in well with a wire whisk. Cook for 2-3 minutes, but do not let the butter burn.

Strain the hot milk into the flour and butter mixture all at once, and mix smoothly with the whisk. Bring the sauce to a boil, stirring constantly, and cook for a further 4-5 minutes.

Season with salt and pepper. Add all but 2 tablespoons of the cheese, and stir over low heat until melted.

Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease an ovenproof dish and sprinkle with some bread crumbs. Cook the pasta in plenty of boiling salted water until al dente.

Drain the pasta, and combine it with the sauce. Pour it into the prepared dish. Sprinkle the top with the remaining bread crumbs and grated cheese and bake in the center of the oven for 20 minutes, until golden and bubbling.