Sinful Baked Mac and Cheese

Deliciously sinful baked mac and cheese is a luxury. A luxury in that it's so rich, you should probably only have a small portion and have a large salad and steamed veggies with it. It's not, however, a luxury in time or cost. Extremely easy and simple, this will fulfill any mac and cheese craving you're likely to have for a long time. Enjoy!

Sinful Baked Mac and Cheese

Yield: 8-12 servings
Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 3/4 cups milk
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 cups (8 ounces) sharp white cheddar cheese, grated
• 1 cup (4 ounces) Gruyere, grated OR
• 1/2 cup parmesan, grated
• 1/2 pound macaroni or similar

Cooking Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Butter a 3-quart casserole dish; set aside.
2. Warm the milk in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
3. Melt the remaining butter in a large skillet over medium heat. When it bubbles, add the flour. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
4. While whisking, slowly pour in the hot milk a little at a time to keep the mixture smooth. Continue whisking constantly until the mixture bubbles and becomes thick, 8 to 12 minutes.
5. Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in nutmeg, black pepper, cayenne pepper, 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese, and 3/4 cups Gruyère (or 1/4 cup parmesan). Set the cheese sauce aside.
6. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the macaroni until the outside of is cooked and the inside is underdone, 2 to 3 minutes. Rinse under cold water and drain the macaroni. Stir the macaroni into the cheese sauce.
7. Pour the mixture into the baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining cheeses over the top. Bake until golden brown, about 30 minutes. Transfer the dish to a wire rack for 5 minutes to set, then serve.