Ultra Creamy Macaroni and Cheese

Guest author: Julie Languille
Website: Dinners In a Flash

Macaroni and cheese is my favorite comfort food. My family loves this recipe. I’ve tried lots of different recipes and this is simply the best. It’s from my website which is an automated dinner planner. People choose what to make (or use one of our menus and customize it) and we make the grocery list, recipe list and even remind you when to thaw something.

Ultra Creamy Macaroni and Cheese

This is the ultimate Mac and Cheese recipe. It stays creamy after baking, and has a crisp buttered crumb topping and wonderful cheddar flavor without any greasiness. Yum.

Serves 8

Ingredients
1 lb Macaroni
1 Tsp Salt
6 Tb Butter
1 Tsp Dry mustard
1 Tsp Garlic – minced
1/4 Tsp Cayenne
6 Tb Flour
1 Can Chicken stock – 14.5 oz
3 1/2 C Milk
1 lb Colby cheese, grated
1/2 lb Extra-sharp cheddar, grated
Black pepper, to taste
4 Slices of bread, torn
2 Tb Butter, melted

Instructions
Start a large pot of water to boil, and add the teaspoon of salt to the water. Preheat the oven to 400, and position a rack in the center of the oven. Spray a 9 X 13 pan with cooking spray.

When the water boils, add the macaroni and boil until just al dente, about 5 minutes. Drain well.

Wipe out the pot and reduce the heat to medium. Add the butter, spices, and garlic. Stir in the flour, whisking out any lumps. Cook 2 minutes, then slowly stir in the chicken stock and milk. Stir until thickened, about 6 to 9 minutes. Remove from the heat; whisk in the grated cheese, stirring until melted.

Season with salt and pepper, then stir in macaroni.

To make crumb topping: in a food processor, chop the bread into fine crumbs, then stir in melted butter.

Pour the macaroni and cheese into the baking dish, top with bread crumb mixture, cover with foil, and bake 25 – 30 minutes. Remove the foil, and bake until golden – 20 – 25 minutes more.

Note: this recipe freezes beautifully. Store the crumbs separately, freeze well wrapped. Thaw for a day and bake as directed with crumb topping added.

Image: Stock.xchng