Good Ol Mac and Cheese
- 1 pound Orechiette Pasta
- 4 ounces, weight Pancetta, Diced
- 6 Tablespoons Butter
- 6 Tablespoons All-purpose Flour
- Salt And Pepper
- 4 cups 1% Milk
- 5 cups Assorted Cheese, I Used White Cheddar, Asiago And Manchego
- 1 cup Homemade Breadcrumbs
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Boil pasta in a large pot of salted water until al dente.
- Pour into a buttered 2-quart casserole dish or 9x13 inch baking pan.
- While pasta is cooking, add the diced pancetta to a 5-quart sauce pan.
- Stir until brown and remove to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
- Discard most of the fat that rendered from the pancetta and add the butter to the pan.
- Allow the butter to melt before adding flour.
- Whisk together butter and flour until it forms a loose paste or roux.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Remember the cheese is salty as well so only a little salt is needed, if any.
- Allow the roux to cook to remove the raw flour taste, about 2 minutes.
- Be careful not to let it burn.
- Slowly add in the milk, about 1/2 cup to 1 cup at a time.
- Let the milk and roux mixture thicken before adding more.
- When all the milk has been added and the mixture coats the spoon, add the cheese a few handfuls at a time until it is all melted.
- When completely combined, stir in the pancetta.
- Pour the cheese sauce on top of the pasta and stir to combine.
- Top with homemade bread crumbs and bake for 30 minutes, until cheese is bubbling and crumbs are crisp and dark brown.
- Optional: Broil for the last five minutes on high to crisp the breadcrumbs more.
orechiette pasta, butter, allpurpose, salt, milk, assorted cheese, breadcrumbs
Taken from tastykitchen.com/recipes/main-courses/good-ole28099-mac-and-cheese/ (may not work)