Mister's Favorite Mac and Cheese

I don't know about all of you but here in the PacNW it was 53 and raining all day. Even though it's June that puts us in mood of winter comfort food. After throwing out some ideas to my husband, he choose Mac and Cheese. The Mister loves Mac and Cheese and we have been perfecting it since before we had kids. We started with a plain ole cheddar version and then moved on to this very grown up version. When the kids came along, we needed to make it just a little more kid friendly. This is what I came up with...

Mister's Favorite Mac and Cheese

1/2 Medium Sweet Onion, diced

1/2 Pound Bacon, sliced thin

2 T Butter

1/4 C Flour

2 C Milk

1/2 Pound Monterey Jack, shredded

1/4 C Stella Parmesan Romano Blend

1/4 Ounce Container Blue Cheese, we prefer Salemville Amish

1 Box of Pasta, pick your favorite shape, cook according to direction.

Topping

1 Sourdough Roll, or a thick slice of Sourdough bread

1/4 C Basil

1/4 C Parmesan Cheese

Preheat oven to 375.

Using Pam, spray a baking pan well.

Saute your onion and bacon. 

While that cooks, start on your topping using these ingredients...

 Combine in a food processor and process until everything is finely chopped and mixed well. Set aside.

 Put your husband to work shredding cheese while you make sure your onions and bacon are cooking and not burning. You should get your pasta started now as well.

 Don't worry you won't use all that cheese, half the shredded is in a baggie for whatever else we need it for. 

 Melt your butter in a deep saute pan.

 Once melted, whisk in your flour. Let it cook for just a couple of minutes.

 I forgot to buy milk at the store today(we don't drink cow's milk), so I substituted 1 C heavy cream and 1 C water. Add that to your roux and let it come to a slow simmer. Turn off your heat and add your cheeses one at a time. We like the mix that we use because you grown ups will get the hint of blue cheese, the kids will love the mildness of the Monterey Jack and the Parmesan/Romano will give it enough flavor that you won't need to add salt. Once your pasta is done (we use Barilla and the kids pick the shape), mix your pasta, bacon and onion mix, along with your cheese sauce and stir it up will. You can do all that mixing right in your baking dish.

 Top with your sourdough, basil, cheese mix.

 Bake for 25 minutes and Devour! Be careful it will be HOT! We like to serve it with a simple green salad and fruit!