Mama's Cheddar Mac Bake Divine Recipe mama who loves to cook

• 1 pound of elbow macaroni
• 4 cups of shredded mild cheddar cheese or shredded mexican cheddar and monterray cheese blend
• 1 1/2 tablespoons of extra light virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon of flour, I like wondra brand but any all purpose flour will do.
• 1/2 teaspoon of yellow mustard
• 1 cup of skim or 2% milk
• 1/2- to 1 pound of crumbled maple flavored bacon
• 1/8 teaspoon coarse black pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon of sea salt or more to your taste
• cooking spray

1. Bring 4 quarts of salted water to a rolling boil in a large pot.
2. Add pasta; stir.
3. Return to a boil, stirring occasionally for 8-11 minutes or until pasta is tender.
4. Drain and put pasta in a 13x9 bake dish which has been coated with cooking spray; let cool for 5- 10 minutes.
5. Meanwhile, in a small non stick skillet add the oil; whisk in the flour over medium heat.
6. Make sure to whisk out all lumps.
7. Stir the flour mixture till it starts to bubble; very lightly brown.
8. Dont turn the mixture too dark brown, it must be light.
9. Take off heat for a moment.
10. Whisk in the mustard and blend thoroughly into the mixture.
11. Put back on medium heat.
12. Whisk in milk gradually, add 1/8 teaspoon of sea salt or more to your taste; 1/8 teaspoon of coarse black pepper.
13. When the mixture starts to bubble take off burner and blend in a 1/2 cup of shredded cheese until melted.
14. Set aside.
15. After the macaroni has sat cooling for 5 or more minutes, add 2 cups of shredded cheese to the pasta.
16. The cheese must be mixed in throughly.
17. Combine the cheese sauce with the macaroni.
18. Put foil on top of the 13x9 dish; put in a preheated 375 degree oven for 30 minutes or till the pastas edges are golden brown and the cheese is bubbly.
19. Take out of oven; take foil off and top with remaining cheese; generously garnish top with crumbled bacon.
20. Put foil back on and let sit for 10 minutes or till ready to serve.
21. Goes great with a side of steamed, buttered, salted and peppered zuchinni or a side of fresh, steamed long green beans with minced garlic, topped with butter.

macaroni, cheddar cheese, olive oil, flour, yellow mustard, milk, maple flavored bacon, coarse black pepper, salt, cooking spray

Taken from www.chowhound.com/recipes/mamas-cheddar-mac-bake-divine-11540 (may not work)