Macaroni and Cheese Ingredients:
1/2 French loaf
1Tbsp butter to grease pan
1 cup butter
1lb elbow macaroni
1/4 lb pre-cooked bacon
5 cups of half & half
1/2 cup all purpose flour (slightly packed)
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp cayenne
8oz extra sharp yellow cheddar
8oz sharp white cheddar
6oz cream cheese
8oz parmesan cheese
2 bunches of scallion (white and pale green parts only)
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375. Use tbsp butter to grease the casserole dish and set aside
2. Cut and cube the bread into 1 inch cubes. Put in a large bowl. Melt 1/2 cup of butter and pour butter all over cubed bread. Toss the breadcrumbs to spread butter evenly and set aside.
3. Get two bowls to separate the cheeses in half. Cut the 8oz of yellow cheddar in half. Shred and put half in one bowl and half in the other (4oz of cheese in each bowl). Do the same with the white cheddar and the parmesan.
4. Slice the 2 bunches of scallions.
5. Boil 6 quarts of salted water in a large pot. Cook macaroni until the outside is cooked and inside is slightly underdone (about 5-6 minutes). Drain and rinse macaroni with cool water and set aside covered.
6. Warm the 5 cups of half & half in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
7. In a large stock pot, melt 4oz butter (1/2 cup) over medium heat. Then add !/2 cup of slightly packed flour to the pot and whisk constantly until slightly thick and smooth.
8. Take the warmed half & half and pour it into the butter-flour mixture all at once while whisking constantly. Cook over medium-low until thick and begins to boil. (The mixture should coat the back of the your spoon generously)
9. Add the 1/2 tsp pepper and 1/4 tsp cayenne to the mixture.
10. Take a handful of scallions and set it aside, while putting the remaining in the mixture.
11. Take one of the bowls of cheese and add to the warm white sauce, stir well.
12. Then fold in the 6oz of cream cheese and 1/4 lb of bacon until fully combined.
13. Stir macaroni into the sauce.
14. Pour the mixture into the prepared casserole dish; top with the leftover bowl of cheese and the handful of leftover scallions. Add bread cubes evenly over the surface of the macaroni and cheese.
15. Bake until golden brown and bubbling—about 30 minutes.
Recipe from Marisa G.... Worth the effort!!
