Hard Apple Cider Mac and Cheese

• 1/2 pounds Bacon
• 1 pound Dried Pasta (I Used Large Shell Pasta)
• 2 Tablespoons Butter
• 3 Tablespoons Flour
• 23 cups Hard Apple Cider (I Used One From Angry Orchard)
• 1-13 cup Milk (I Use Skim)
• 2-23 cups Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Shredded
• 1/2 teaspoons Fresh Ground Black Pepper

1. 1.
2. First, cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until its super crispy.
3. Remove bacon from the skillet onto a paper towel lined plate.
4. Once cooled chop the cooked bacon into small, bacon bite like pieces.
5. Set aside.
6. 2.
7. Cook pasta in a pot of very salty water until 4-6 minutes less than al dente.
8. (Youre going to bake it later, so by under-cooking it now youre making sure it isnt soft or mushy when it comes out of the oven!)
9. When its done drain it and set aside.
10. 3.
11. Preheat oven to 375 F. In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium-high heat.
12. Then whisk flour into the butter to form a roux and cook for 1 minute.
13. 4.
14. Whisk hard apple cider into the roux a little at a time until youve worked out all the lumps.
15. Then whisk in milk.
16. Bring sauce to a simmer and cook, stirring frequently, until sauce has thickened, about 6-8 minutes.
17. 5.
18. Remove sauce from heat.
19. Stir in cheddar cheese and mix until cheese has melted.
20. Stir in pepper.
21. 6.
22. Stir all but one handful of the bacon pieces into the sauce.
23. Set the extra handful of bacon aside for topping the pasta before you bake it.
24. 7.
25. Stir the pasta into the sauce until all noodles are evenly coated.
26. Pour pasta into a baking dish.
27. You can use one large 9x13 pan if you like.
28. I chose to use four smaller 4 diameter ones.
29. Its up to you!
30. Top with the bacon you set aside.
31. 8.
32. Bake at 375 F for 20-25 minutes or until edges are crispy.
33. *Note: If you want to add additional toppings before baking, I suggest additional shredded cheddar cheese or breadcrumbs.
34. Alternatively, this mac and cheese is just as amazing straight out of the pot, without baking it.

bacon, pasta, butter, flour, apple cider, milk, cheddar cheese, fresh ground black pepper

Taken from tastykitchen.com/recipes/main-courses/hard-apple-cider-mac-and-cheese/ (may not work)