BAKED MACARONI & CHEESE

This is a simple comfort food for someone who is feeling a little down (and you know who you are)

Ingredients:

300 g elbow macaroni
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
1 tablespoon powdered mustard (Coleman's the best)
3 cups milk
½ cup yellow onion, finely diced
1 bay leaf
½ teaspoon paprika
1 large egg
300 g sharp cheddar, shredded
1 teaspoon sea salt
Fresh black pepper

Toppings:

3 tablespoons butter
1 cup panko bread crumbs

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. In a large pot of boiling, salted water cook the pasta to al dente.
3. While the pasta is cooking, in a separate pot, melt the butter.
4. Whisk in the flour and mustard and whisk for five minutes. Make sure it's free of lumps.
5. Add in the milk, onion, bay leaf, and paprika. Simmer for ten minutes and remove the bay leaf.
6. Gradually add in the egg. Stir in ¾ of the cheese. Season with salt and pepper.
7. Fold the macaroni into the mix and pour into a 2-quart casserole dish. Top with remaining cheese.
8. Melt the butter in a pan and toss the bread crumbs to coat.
9. Top the macaroni with the bread crumbs. Bake for 30 minutes.
10. Remove from oven and rest for five minutes before serving.

Note:

Remember to save leftovers for Fried Macaroni and Cheese.