Recipes

Macaroni and Cheese

  • 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
  • 12 tsp. cayenne pepper
  • Salt and freshly ground white pepper
  • 3 34 cups hot milk
  • 4 cups grated cheddar cheese
  • 1 lb. short macaroni, cooked
  • 12 cup heavy cream
  • 12 cup fresh bread crumbs

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.

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