Mac n’ Cheese Please

Serves: 4 Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 45 minutes

1 lb. elbow macaroni
3 T butter, divided
2 T all purpose flour
½ t dry mustard
3 cups whole milk
1 t fresh grated nutmeg
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded swiss cheese
½ cup grated parmesan cheese
½ cup panko bread crumbs
S&P

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Set a large pot of water over high heat to boil. In a large saucepan melt 2 T butter over medium high heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in milk, and bring to a gentle boil, stirring constantly. Once the milk has thickened add in mustard and nutmeg, and season with S&P. Reduce to medium low heat and melt in cheddar and swiss cheeses. Allow to cook on low for a few minutes.

When water is boiling season water with salt and add pasta. Note package cooking time and reduce by 2 minutes, the macaroni will continue cooking in the oven later. Once pasta is cooked, drain and return to pot.

In a separate sauce pan melt remaining T butter over medium heat. Combine with parmesan cheese and bread crumbs, turn off heat and set aside.

Pour cheese sauce over pasta in pot. Mix well. Transfer to a greased 13×9 baking dish and top with bread crumb mixture. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 30 minutes.

Serve with side salad and your kids will forget all about that blue box filled with fluorescent orange pasta!

Tasty Tidbit: You can make this an all in one meal with the addition of some cooked cubed ham and some frozen peas or some leftover roasted chicken mixed in with some broccoli.

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