Our Favorite Macaroni And Cheese Recipe Epicuriouscom

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. and butter a 3- to 4-quart gratin dish or other shallow baking dish.
• In a heavy saucepan melt 6 tablespoons butter over moderately low heat. Add flour and cook roux, whisking, 3 minutes. Add milk in a stream, whisking, and bring to a boil, whisking. Add mustard, cayenne, and salt and pepper to taste and simmer sauce, whisking occasionally, until thickened, about 2 minutes.
• In a kettle of salted boiling water cook macaroni until just al dente, about 7 minutes, and drain well. In a large bowl stir together macaroni, sauce, Cheddar, and 1 cup Parmesan and transfer to prepared dish.
• In a small bowl stir together bread crumbs and remaining 1/3 cup Parmesan and sprinkle evenly over macaroni. Cut remaining 1 tablespoon butter into bits and scatter over topping.
• Bake macaroni in middle of oven 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden and bubbling.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 with rack in the middle of oven.
• Butter the baking dish.
• Make the topping: In a large skillet over medium heat, heat butter and oil until butter foam subsides. Add panko and garlic and cook stirring, until crumbs are golden brown, 4 to 6 minutes. Transfer crumbs to a medium bowl, stir in Parmesan and salt and set aside.
• Prepare the macaroni and sauce: Set a large, covered pot of salted water over high heat to boil. Add macaroni and cook until just al dente (avoid overcooking). Drain macaroni and set aside.
• In a large wide pot over medium-low heat, melt the butter. Sprinkle flour over butter, whisking to incorporate and make a roux.
• Cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until roux is light golden, about 4 minutes. Gradually pour in milk and cream, whisking constantly to incorporate and make a bechamel sauce.
• Raise heat to medium-high and bring sauce to a low boil, whisking constantly. Reduce to a simmer, whisking occasionally, and cook until bechamel sauce is thick and coats the back of a spoon, about 3 minutes more.
• Add 2 tsp salt, pepper, and mustard powder. Add the cheeses in three batches, whisking until each addition is completely melted before adding more. Remove from heat.
• Add the drained macaroni to the pot with the cheese sauce and stir to coat. Transfer macaroni mixture to the buttered baking dish and place on a rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle topping evenly over macaroni and bake until golden and bubbling, 18 to 22 minutes.
• Let cool 15 minutes before serving.