Bacon Mac & Cheese

Ingredients:

1. 1 teaspoon flour 

2. 1/4 teaspoon of butter

3. 1 cup milk 

4. 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

5. 3/4 cup cheddar cheese (A sharp cheddar will produce a most robust tasting Mac & Cheese.)

6. 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese 

7. 1 cup cooked macaroni (Start with a 1/2 a cup of dry pasta. Pasta normally doubles when cooked)

8. 2 slices of thick cut bacon (A smokier bacon will add a layer of complexity to the Mac & Cheese.)

9. Salt & pepper

10. 1 Tablespoon of sliced parsley (Flat leaf parsley is easier to slice than curly leaf parsley.) 

11. 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs

Directions: 

1. Slice the bacon into 1/4 strips. (This is a classical french cut called a Lardon.)

2. In a small sauce pot over low to medium heat slowly cook the bacon. (By cooking the bacon slower this helps to render the fat from the bacon without browning the bacon fat, all while the bacon becomes crispy.)

3. Add the flour into the sauce pot. (We are using the bacon fat instead of butter or oil to create our roux, a classic sauce thickener. This will help with adding more bacon flavor to our Mac & Cheese.) 

4. Add the milk and cream with 1/4 teaspoon of salt to the sauce pot, while whisking, and bring to a simmer. (These are the beginning steps to create the oldest of the Five Mother Sauces. This sauce is called a Béchamel.)

5. Simmer the Béchamel for 10 - 15 minutes. (This will help to velvety smooth.)

6. Turn the sauce down to low and slowly stir in the cheese with a rubber spatula.

7. Slowly mix the pasta into the cheese sauce and season with salt and pepper to personal preference. (If you use a whisk the cheese with get stuck between the metal spokes.)

8. Add the sliced parsley. Let cook for a minute.

9. In a small sauté pan, melt the butter over low heat and add the breadcrumbs. Toast gently.

10. Add the Mac & Cheese to an oven safe dish, top with bread crumbs and bake on 425f for 10 minutes. (This step is completely optional.)

Other ingredients to help enhance your dish:

• Truffle salt

• Gouda (smoked even)

• Fresh thyme

• Whole wheat pasta

• Smoked paprika 

• Fresh garlic

• Tarragon

• Parmesan 

• Smoked ham

• Rosemary

Shopping list

Flour

Unsalted butter

Milk

Heavy whipping cream

Cheddar cheese

Mozzarella cheese

Macaroni

Bacon

Parsley

Panko breadcrumbs

Grapefruit

Vodka

White wine

Club soda

Raspberries

Thyme sprigs

Sugar

***Please check the recipes before shopping. I have included some notes and suggestions to help you during your shopping.