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!
You had me at bacon! ❤
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