Today in Montreal we woke up to temperatures of -29C! No better time to make this warm comfort food … it’s like getting a hug with every bite!

Time for some Hearty Bacon Mac’N Cheese!

You’ll need for this one:

• 500g shredded cheddar
• 500g macaroni
• 1 medium yellow onion
• 100g of bacon or lardons
• 1/4 cup of unsalted butter
• approximately 1/4 cup of flour
• 3/4 cup of cooking cream
• 1 cup of whole milk

We start with the mother of sauces, the Béchamel (or white sauce)

Melt the butter in a medium size sauce pan

Add flour slowly and stir

Stop when you have a nice, thick paste

Slowly add the milk and cream, stirring the whole time

Continue the process until you have a nice, thick sauce. The paste will absorb more milk that you expect!

Start adding cheese to the sauce

Stir until melted. You want to keep doing this until you have used almost all the cheese. (You want a bit left over to sprinkle on the dish before baking!)

Put the sauce aside for a moment with a lid to keep it warm

Get your macaroni on to boil

Place a little butter in a warm skillet

Add some onions and saute for a couple of minutes

Add the bacon or lardons

Saute both together with a little pepper (to taste)

After a few minutes, add this to your cheese sauce … yea, it DOES look good!

Mix well over a low heat

Macaroni should be ready! Drain the pasta and put it back in the pot

Add the cheese sauce to the pasta …

and mix it together well!

Empty the pot into a large pan for baking!

Spread evenly

Now some final toppings!

Add some breadcrumbs (it’s optional, but I like it)

Remember that cheese I told you to put aside? Sprinkle it on top!

Now it’s ready for the oven

Place in oven preheated to 350F (you do not HAVE to be wearing a Doctor Who shirt, but I find it helps!)

After about 40 minutes you should have a nice golden crust!

Serve it along with some nice greens (come on, we DO need some vegetables too after all)

You can make it with lots of other ingredients, just add whatever you want to that cheese sauce!

We’ve done broccoli, mushrooms, peas … the list is endless!

So, there you have it, my Hearty Bacon Mac’N Cheese!

Bon Apetit!