My Favorite Mac and Cheese

Ingredients:

• 4 tablespoons butter
• 4 tablespoons flour
• 2 1/2 cups milk heated
• 1 1/2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
• salt
• fresh ground pepper
• cayenne
• 1/2 lb macaroni cooked
• 1/4 cup grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese
• 1/2 cup freshly made buttered bread crumb

Steps:

• Sauce Melt the butter in a heavy-bottomed saucepan Stir in the flour and cook
• stirring constantly
• until the paste cooks and bubbles a bit
• but dont let it brown about 2 minutes Add the hot milk
• continuing to stir as the sauce thickens Bring it to a boil Add salt and pepper to taste
• lower the heat
• and cook
• stirring for 2 to 3 minutes more Stir in 1 cup grated Cheddar cheese during the last 2 minutes of cooking
• along with a pinch of cayenne pepper Remove from the heat To cool this sauce for later use
• cover it with wax paper or pour a film of milk over it to prevent a skin from forming
• Macaroni Preheat the oven to 375F Butter a 1 1/2-quart casserole Put the cooked macaroni into the casserole
• pour the cheese sauce over it
• and mix gently with a fork Sprinkle the grated cheese evenly over the top and spread the crumbs over the cheese Bake
• uncovered
• until the top is golden and the sauce is bubbling
• about 30 minutes