Anthony’s Baked Macaroni And Cheese Recipe

Nothing says comfort better then Mom’s baked macaroni and cheese, which is the ultimate comfort food.  Below you will find my recipe for a baked macaroni and cheese that is made with both sharp cheddar and Parmesan cheeses and then topped with a combination of the cheeses and bread crumbs that have been tossed in melted butter.

Ingredients:

1/2 pound of elbow macaroni
3 tablespoons of butter
3 tablespoons of flour
1 tablespoon of powdered mustard
2 cups of milk
1 cup of cream
1/2 cup of yellow onion, finely diced
1/2 teaspoon of paprika
1 large egg
1/2 cups of sharp cheddar, shredded
1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese, shredded
1 teaspoon of kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon of white pepper

Ingredients for topping:

3 tablespoons of butter
1 cup of bread crumbs

Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

You will want to begin by placing your macaroni into a large pot of salted boiling water and then cooking your pasta until it is almost al dente.  This should take 5 to 7 minutes.

While your macaroni is cooking you should melt your butter in a medium saucepan.  When the butter has melted add in your flour and whisk it into the butter over a medium high heat.  What you are doing is making a roux to thicken up your sauce.  You should continuously whisk for five minutes, making certain not to burn your roux and making certain its lump free.  After five minutes you will want to slowly whisk in your milk and then add in your onion and paprika.  You should now lower your temperature to a medium low heat and simmer for 10 minutes, making certain to stir your milk mixture periodically to prevent burning.

You now want to add in your egg but this must be done carefully so that it doesn’t cook the egg and make it turn into a solid.  To prevent this you will want to do what is called tempering your egg.  To temper your egg, place the egg into a large mixing bowl and whisk it.  You will then want to slowly stream your milk mixture into the egg while whisking constantly.  You should do this until about half of your milk mixture has been added into the egg.  You can now safely pour your egg and milk mixture in your mixing bowl back into the saucepan.  You now want to stir in about 3/4 of the cheese into the saucepan along with your salt and pepper.  Now, fold in the cooked macaroni into the sauce and then pour your macaroni and cheese into a 2-quart casserole dish.  You should now top your macaroni and cheese with the remaining cheese.

It is now time to make the topping for your macaroni and cheese so melt the butter for the topping in a sauce pan and then toss the bread crumbs into the butter to coat.  Now, top the macaroni and cheese with the bread crumbs, place your casserole dish in your preheated oven and then bake for 30 minutes.   You will want the top to be a nice golden brown.  When it is finished, remove your baked macaroni and cheese from oven and let it rest for about five minutes before you serve it.