Bacon Mac & Cheese

• 2 tbsp unsalted butter; melted
• 1-1.5 cups breadcrumbs
• 1 cup (125 g) grated sharp cheddar
• chopped parsley/sage/rosemary (optional)
• Sauce:
• 1 lb elbow mac
• 1 tbsp unsalted butter (3 tbsp if not using bacon)
• 3 tbsp flour
• 2 tsp pepper flakes
• 2 3/4 cups milk
• 3/4 cup cream
• 2 cups (250 g) grated orange cheddar
• 2 cups (250 g) grated sharp cheddar
• 1 piece of smoked gouda about 150 g
• 4 tsp dijon
• 2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• about 3/4 package bacon
• 2 bay leaves

1. Cook mac until al dente about 4-5 minutes. Rinse with cold water and keep on the side.
2. Dice bacon. Fry it in a skillet until crispy and render the bacon fat, scoop out the bacon and put it on the side. Keep the bacon fat.
3. In a large pot, pour in 2 tbsp of the bacon fat and the 1 tbsp of butter over low heat. Stir in flour and pepper flakes. (If not using bacon, replace the 2bsp of bacon with butter)
4. Cook for 3 minutes, stirring.
5. Whisk in milk and cream and add bay leaves
6. Bring to a boil, whisking constantly for 3 minutes.
7. Remove bay leaves
8. Stir in mustard, S & P and cheese.
9. Remove from heat, add mac and stir. Add most of diced bacon and stir. Put remaining diced bacon in with bread crumbs
10. Butter a baking dish and pour the mac in.
11. Sprinkle the breadcrumbs over the mac.
12. Bake in 400 oven for 20-25 min or until bubbling. Broil for last 3-4 minutes to crisp up the crust.

butter, breadcrumbs, cheddar, parsleysage, elbow mac, butter, flour, pepper, milk, cream, cheddar, gouda, salt, pepper, bacon, bay leaves

Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/bacon-mac-cheese-52780681 (may not work)