Comforting Comfort Food: Grown-up Mac and Cheese
Author: 
Recipe type: Lunch, Dinner
Cuisine: American
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 8 servings
 
Ingredients
  • 1lb pasta - I prefer a short cut textured pasta such as: spiral, gemelli, cellentani, penne rigate that can grab onto the cheese
  • 1T Olive Oil - I use my favorite Picholine from a local shop The Olive Twist (www.theolivetwist.com)
  • ½lb Bacon, chopped
  • 2 Medium Onions, thinly sliced
  • ½C Wine (a dry white is great, but use whatever favorite white or blush you have on hand to drink)
  • 2T Butter
  • 2T Flour
  • 1C Milk
  • 1C Chicken Broth
  • 2C Gruyere, shredded (regular Swiss would work fine, I just like the nuttiness of Gruyere and how well it melts)
  • ½t nutmeg, fresh grated
  • 2-3 drops Hot Sauce
  • 1T Spicy brown or Dijon Mustard
  • Salt & Pepper
Instructions
  1. Cook pasta as directed on package to al dente.
  2. While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a pan.
  3. Crisp the bacon in the olive oil.
  4. Remove the bacon, reserving the oil and bacon grease in the pan.
  5. Add the onions and cook over medium heat until softened and just beginning to caramelize.
  6. Add the wine and reduce 1-2 minutes.
  7. As the onions cook, in a saucepan, melt the butter and whisk in the flour to make a roux.
  8. After a minute or two, whisk in the broth and milk.
  9. Allow to thicken several minutes then add salt, pepper and nutmeg to taste.
  10. Add a few drops of the hot sauce.
  11. Whisk in the mustard.
  12. Remove from heat and stir in the shredded cheese, a little at a time to melt into the sauce.
  13. Pour the cheese sauce into the pasta and toss together.
Recipe by Changing Seasonings at https://www.changingseasonings.com/2013/02/comforting-comfort-food-grown-up-mac-and-cheese/