© Confident Cook 2010

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There are four components to this casserole. Make each one and then combine them together and bake for 30 minutes.

 

1.    macaroni

2.    sautéed onion mixture

3.    cheese sauce

4.    crumb topping

 

Butter a 3 quart casserole/baking dish. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

 

1. Macaroni

Ingredients:

1 lb elbow macaroni

Water

Salt

Directions:

Heat a large pot of salted water to boiling. Add macaroni and stir. Following package directions, cook until al dente. Drain.

 

2. Sautéed Onion Mixture

Ingredients:

1 slice Applewood Smoked Bacon

1 Onion

1 Clove Garlic

2 Tablespoons Diced Green Chiles

Leaves from 1 sprig fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried thyme

Directions:

Chop the bacon into ¼ inch pieces, sauté over medium low heat until the fat is rendered. Remove bacon from pan and set aside.

 

Mince the onion. Saute onion in bacon fat until soft, about 5 minutes. Add one clove of crushed garlic and the thyme and cook for one minute. Add the diced green chiles, stir and remove from heat.

 

3. Cheese Sauce

Ingredients:

3 Tablespoons unsalted butter

3 Tablespoons flour

4 cups milk

5 cups grated cheddar cheese

½ cup grated parmesan cheese

Directions:

Measure the milk and put into a saucepan to heat to almost boiling. While the milk is heating, grate the cheeses and set aside. Next, put the 3 Tablespoons of butter into a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Allow to melt and add 3 Tablespoons of flour. Whisk for about 3 minutes or until the flour no longer smells raw. Congratulations! You just made a roux!

 

Pour the heated milk into the flour and butter mixture. Whisk until smooth. Working quickly, add the seasonings: salt, white pepper, lemon juice, nutmeg, Dijon mustard and hot sauce. Turn off the heat. Whisk everything together and add the cheddar cheese, whisking until all the cheese is melted. Add ½ cup parmesan cheese and stir until melted.

 

4. Crumb Topping

Ingredients:

2/3 cup bread crumbs

2 Tablespoons butter, melted

2 Tablespoons grated parmesan

¼ teaspoon smoked paprika

Salt

 

Directions:

Combine all ingredients until thoroughly mixed.

 

Combine:

Add the cooked onion mixture to the macaroni, stir gently until well mixed. Pour the cheese sauce into the macaroni mixture and stir until all the macaroni is thoroughly coated with the cheese sauce. Pour it all into the prepared baking dish.