Once the bacon is cooked, remove it from the skillet and set it aside. If you really want to get crazy with the bacon (and who doesn't?), cook the diced bacon in the same skillet you'll be making the sauce in. You can also toss in a cup or two of diced, crisped bacon. It also helps keep the noodles from collapsing, meaning the cheese sauce can get inside the noodles as well as coating them outside. This is because it will continue to cook and absorb liquid (and flavor) from the sauce while it bakes. But when making this baked macaroni and cheese, I slightly undercook the pasta. Normally we like our pasta a little past al dente.
Add salt, pepper, mustard and red pepper. You don't want the mixture to boil, but you do want a simmer in order to fully thicken the sauce.
Bring the mixture up to a simmer, and reduce heat.Slowly add all the milk, whisking constantly. If you add small amounts at a time, you'll avoid lumps. Add milk, a little at a time, whisking constantly to ensure the mixture remains smooth. If you are using onions, whisk in grated onion.Cook butter/flour mixture for about one minute. Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, heat butter over medium heat.Cook pasta according to directions on the package-about 10 minutes. The water should taste like sea water-this makes sure the pasta is seasoned all the way through. In a medium saucepan, bring heavily salted water to a boil.
1 (10-oz.) block extra sharp Cheddar cheese, shreddedīaked Macaroni and Cheese - Recipe Directions.1/2 yellow or white onion, grated (optional).Baked Macaroni and Cheese - Recipe Ingredients