Macaroni And Cheese For Grownups

Total Time: 55 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/2 yellow onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 2 cups 2% low-fat milk
• 1 teaspoon wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt (or to taste)
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper or 1/2 teaspoon pepper (or to taste)
• 1/4 teaspoon tabasco sauce (or to taste)
• 1/4 cup pepperoncini peppers or 1/4 cup pickled jalapeno pepper, diced (or to taste)
• 3 cups assorted cheese, shredded or crumbled
• 2 cups elbow macaroni, cooked al dente
• 1 cup seasoned dry bread crumb
• 1/2 cup grated fresh parmesan cheese

Recipe

• 1 melt the butter in a heavy skillet.
• 2 add the onion and saute on medium heat until softened and mostly cooked-about 10 minutes.
• 3 add the garlic and cook for one more minute-be careful not to brown the garlic.
• 4 whisk the flour in.
• 5 cook while stirring for three minutes.
• 6 uncooked flour tastes bad!
• 7 whisk in the milk.
• 8 continue to stir until the mixture barely begins to boil.
• 9 it should be a little bubbly and beginning to thicken.
• 10 add the vinegar while whisking-if the milk is hot it won't curdle and the vinegar brightens up the sauce.
• 11 add salt and pepper to taste.
• 12 if you don't want black flecks use pepper instead.
• 13 add a dash of tobasco.
• 14 taste then add more if you like.
• 15 stir in the pepperoncinis or jalapenos.
• 16 you need to experiment-make this a few times and decide exactly how much of which pepper you like.
• 17 stir in your favorite cheeses.
• 18 i like to combine sharp cheddar with a little crumbled bleu.
• 19 swiss is good for flavor but not texture so blend with something creamy like fontina.
• 20 monterey jack is very creamy but without a lot of flavor so add something sharp and flavorful.
• 21 pour the macaroni into a large baking pan.
• 22 pour the sauce over and gently mix.
• 23 sprinkle the parmesan and bread crumbs on top.
• 24 bake at 350 degrees until browned on top-about 25 minutes or so.
• 25 let sit for 10 minutes then serve.
• 26 you may never even consider boxed mac-n-cheese again.