Baked Macaroni and Cheese #

Ingredients #

• 16 oz cavatappi or elbow macaroni, cooked and drained
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. pepper
• 3/4 tsp. dry mustard
• 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
• 4 Tbsp. butter
• 4 Tbsp. flour
• 3 1/2 cups whole milk, warm
• 5 cups of sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

Instructions #

• Preheat oven to 350°F
• Pour cooked macaroni into a 3 qt. baking dish
• Mix salt, pepper, dry mustard, and cayenne pepper in a small bowl and set aside
• Melt butter in large saucepan over low heat
• Stir in flour into the melted butter to form a roux
• Raise the temperature of the saucepan to medium-high
• Add the milk to the saucepan and bring to a boil while whisking until the sauce thickens.
• Add the seasoning mixture to the sauce part way through the thickening process.
• Once thickened, lower heat and cook for 2 - 3 minutes, continuing to whisk.
• Remove saucepan from heat
• Stir the cheese into the sauce until melted
• Pour sauce over the cooked macaroni
• Bake for 15 minutes