Rich and Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese

Dear Turkey,

It's so good you'll want

To have extra for dessert

Even if you're full

Rich and Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese

(serves 6, adapted from here)

Ingredients:

- 1 lb elbows

- 1 stick butter

- 1/2 c flour

- 1.5 c whole milk

- 2.5 c half and half

- 4 c grated cheddar

- 2 c grated Gruyere

- 1 t salt

- 1 t pepper

- 1 t paprika 

- chipotle tabasco and balsamic reduction, for topping 

Instructions:

- Cook the pasta until al dente and toss with some olive oil so it doesn't stick.

- Meanwhile, melt the butter in a pan and use some of the melted butter to grease a 9x13 baking dish. 

- Add the flour to the butter in the pan and stir until combined. Stir in the spices, the milk and half and half, and then about half of the cheeses. Let it simmer for a few minutes, stirring often, until it's starting to thicken up a bit. 

- Combine the pasta and sauce and spread half of the pasta and sauce into the greased baking dish. Sprinkle half of the remaining cheeses over the pasta, then pour the remaining pasta on top, and sprinkle the rest of the cheeses on top of that.

- Bake at 350 F for about 20 minutes, or until all the cheese on top is melted. Finish under the broiler if you want. Serve with toppings. 

- I'm not a leftovers person but even I would say this is better on day 2. 

Enjoy,

Tofu