MAC N CHEESE WITH BACON AND BREADCRUMBS RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Bring 3 quarts water to a boil over high in a large stock-pot. Stir in pasta and 1 tablespoon of the salt, and return to a boil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender but still firm, about 6 minutes. Reserve and set aside 2 cups cooking water, and then drain the pasta. Return pasta to pot, and remove from heat. Cover to keep warm.
• Generously butter a 13- x 9-inch baking dish, and set aside. Toss together breadcrumbs; Parmesan cheese; and half of the cooked, crumbled bacon in a bowl, and set aside. Stir together flour, pepper, mustard, and remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in a small bowl. Heat milk and buttermilk in a medium saucepan over medium, undisturbed, until barely steaming but not boiling, 4 to 5 minutes. Set aside.
• Melt butter in a large heavy saucepan over medium-high. Add flour mixture. Cook, whisking often, until mixture is smooth and thick and has a delicate golden color and toasted aroma, about 2 minutes. Slowly whisk in warm milk mixture. Bring to a boil over high. Cook, stirring often, until thickened to the texture of cream, about 3 minutes.
• Stir shredded Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses into milk mixture, and remove from heat. Stir in beaten eggs until mixture forms a smooth sauce.
• Uncover cooked pasta, and stir. (If pasta sticks together, stir in reserved warm cooking water, and drain again.) Stir cheese mixture and remaining bacon into drained pasta in stockpot.
• Transfer pasta mixture to prepared baking dish, and sprinkle evenly with breadcrumb mixture. Bake in preheated oven until firm, puffed up, and lightly browned, 35 to 40 minutes. Serve hot or warm.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees F. In medium saucepan, boil macaroni until tender; drain and set aside in colander.
• Meanwhile, pan fry 4 to 6 strips of bacon to desired crispness. Lay cooked bacon on a paper towel over a plate to drain excess fat.
• In medium saucepan, melt 4 tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat. Whisk in flour, salt, pepper, mustard and Worcestershire sauce. Cook until mixture begins to bubble; remove from heat. Whisk in milk.
• Boil for 1 minute stirring constantly; remove from heat. Whisk in cheese until melted. Add macaroni and 2 to 4 strips of crumbled bacon (optional), mix well.
• Pour evenly into a 2-quart broiler-safe baking dish or porcelain frying pans. Bake on center rack uncovered 15 to 20 minutes or until cheese bubbles. Remove from oven; set aside.
• Meanwhile in small bowl, mix 2 tablespoons of melted butter, cubed bread, bread crumbs and remaining crumbled bacon. Sprinkle over baked macaroni.
• Adjust oven rack to the top. Broil 3 to 6 minutes until crumbs are deep golden brown. Rotate dish for even browning if necessary. Cool for 5 minutes before serving. ENJOY!