Macaroni and Cheese

Name: Macaroni and Cheese
Total time: PT0D0H0M
Yield: serves 6
Ingredients: 8 tbsp. butter; 6 tbsp. flour; 1 ⁄ 2 tsp. cayenne pepper; Salt and freshly ground white pepper; 3 3 ⁄ 4 cups hot milk; 4 cups grated cheddar cheese; 1 lb. short macaroni, cooked; 1 ⁄ 2 cup heavy cream; 1 ⁄ 2 cup fresh bread crumbs

Serves
serves 6

CHRISTOPHER HIRSHEIMER

This grown-up version of a childhood favorite is a great way to satisfy that deep-seated yearning for melted cheese.

Ingredients

8 tbsp. butter
6 tbsp. flour
¹⁄₂ tsp. cayenne pepper
Salt and freshly ground white pepper
3 ³⁄₄ cups hot milk
4 cups grated cheddar cheese
1 lb. short macaroni, cooked
¹⁄₂ cup heavy cream
¹⁄₂ cup fresh bread crumbs

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Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350°. Melt 6 tbsp. butter in a medium stainless-steel saucepan over low heat. Add flour and cook, stirring constantly, for about 4 minutes (flour mixture must foam as it cooks, or sauce will taste of raw flour). Stir in cayenne and season to taste with salt and pepper. Whisk in hot milk, ½ cup at a time, and cook, stirring, until sauce thickens. Reduce heat to low and stir in 2 cups of cheese. Cook, stirring, until cheese melts, about 2 minutes.

Step 2

Combine pasta and sauce in a large bowl, and season with salt. Sprinkle ½ cup cheese over the bottom of a buttered 8" × 11" baking dish. Place one-third of the pasta in the baking dish, top with ½ cup of cheese, then repeat, layering pasta and cheese, ending with cheese, making three layers in all.

Step 3

Pour cream over assembled macaroni and cheese. Melt remaining butter in a skillet. Add bread crumbs, coat with melted butter, and sprinkle over macaroni and cheese. Bake until crust is golden, about 30 minutes. Allow to rest for 15 minutes before serving.