#39 Macaroni and Cheese

I have only made mac and cheese homemade a couple times, so I was excited to try the recipe in The Homemade Pantry.

Macaroni and Cheese
Serves 6-8

Salt
1 pound penne, macaroni, or shells
Optional: 1 medium head broccoli, cut into bite size pieces
1/4 cup unsalted butter (1/2 stick), plus additional for pan
4 cups whole milk
6 Tbsp. flour
1 tsp. paprika
1 tsp. dry mustard
Ground pepper to taste
1 pound grated Cheddar or a mix of Cheddar and Gruyere
2 cups plain or garlic bread crumbs over high heat.

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add pasta and cook for half the time specified on the package. Add broccoli, if using. Cook for another 2 minutes and drain and rince in cold water. Set aside.

2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9x13 baking pan with butter.

3. Bring milk just to a boil in a medium saucepan and set aside. Meanwhile, melt the butter in another medium saucepan. Add the flour and whisk over low heat just until the mixture turns a golden and fragnant, about 2 minutes.

Add the hot milk to the flour mixture and whisk well. Add paprika and dry mustard and continue to whisk over medium heat until mixture thickens, about 5 minutes. Season the mixture with salt and pepper to taste.

4. Pour the penne and broccoli (I did not use the broccoli) into the baking dish. Pour the cream sauce over the pasta and toss to coat.

Sprinkle 3/4 of the cheese on top, then all of the bread crumbs, then the remaining cheese. Finish with a sprinkling of paprika and some salt and pepper.

 

I forgot the paprika....bake for 30 minutes, or until golden and starting to bubble. Then put it under the broiler for a few more minutes, until it puffs up and turns an even darker golden. Allow to sit for 10 minutes before serving.

 

This recipe was really good. I forgot the paprika entirely, so I'm not sure what that would have offered to the taste. I also did not include the broccoli, but I think that would be yummy too. My family liked it, for the most part. I paired this dish with a nice garden salad...it was perfect for that vegetarian night we have from time to time.