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Marry Me Mac & Cheese

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If you're looking to woo someone, or make them feel loved, this is the recipe to make. It is neither healthy nor quick, but it's love in a dish. Amp it up with lobster, bacon, smoked brisket, or whatever you want. Or, be a purist, and eat it as is.

Ingredients

  • 1 stick (8 oz) unsalted butter, plus more for dish

  • 6 slices good white bread, crusts removed, torn into ¼ to ½ inch pieces

  • 5½ cups of milk

  • ½ cup all-purpose flour

  • 2 tsp salt

  • ¼ tsp grated nutmeg

  • ¼ tsp ground pepper

  • ¼ tsp cayenne, or to taste

  • 4½ cups (about 18 ounces) grated sharp white cheddar cheese

  • 2 cups (about 8 ounces) grated Gruyere cheese

  • 1½ pound elbow macaroni or any other small pasta shape

Preparation

1.      Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Butter a 3-quart casserole dish; set aside.

 

2.      Place bread in a medium bowl.  Melt 2 Tbsp butter and pour into the bowl with bread, and toss.  Set breadcrumbs aside.

 

3.      In a medium saucepan set over medium heat, heat the milk gently and keep warm.


4. In a high-sided skillet, melt the remaining 6 Tbsp butter.  When butter bubbles, add the flour.  Cook, stirring, one minute.

 

5.      Slowly pour the hot milk into the butter/ flour mixture, incorporating as you go.  Continue cooking, whisking constantly, until the mixture bubbles and becomes thick.

 

6.      Remove pan from heat.  Stir in salt, nutmeg, black pepper, cayenne pepper, 3 cups of cheddar cheese and 1 ½ cups of the Gruyere.  Set this cheese sauce aside.

 

7.      Fill a large saucepan with water and bring to a boil.  Add pasta and cook 2-3 minutes less than the package says to cook, until outside of pasta is cooked but inside of pasta is still a little under-cooked.  Transfer the pasta to a colander, rinse under cold running water, and drain well.  Stir macaroni into reserved cheese sauce.

 

8.      Pour mixture into prepared dish.  Sprinkle with remaining 1 ½ cups cheddar and ½ cup Gruyere, and then add the breadcrumbs to the top (you can press them in a little if it feels like they will fall out).

 

9. Bake until browned on top, about 30 minutes.  Transfer dish to wire rack to cool 5 minutes before serving.

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