Cajun Macaroni and Cheese

Buster's friend's Note:

This sounds so good for my tender mouth. Found it in The Seattle Times (LOL) who attribute it to being from From "Macaroni & Cheese" by Marlena Spieler. My tender tooffs thank you Marlena. If this keeps up I'll have to be buying your book.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 10 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 55 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 12 ounces macaroni , small-elbow (small shells fine too, about 3 cups)
• 1 small onion , finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 garlic clove , chopped
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 ½ cups milk , hot, but not boiling
• ½ green bell pepper , diced
• ½ teaspoon yellow mustard seeds
• ½ teaspoon fresh thyme leave (1/4 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed, fine too)
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon prepared mustard (yellow & Creole fine, I love Zatarain's )
• ½ teaspoon dry mustard
• 12 ounces sharp cheddar cheese , shredded
• 15 -20 green olives , pimiento-stuffed, sliced
• hot sauce , to taste
• salt , to taste
• black pepper , freshly ground, to taste
• 3 tablespoons cracker crumbs (breadcrumbs fine too)
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cook pasta in a large pot of rapidly boiling water until almost al dente. Reserve cup cooking water, then drain.
2. In a large, heavy-bottom saucepan lightly saute onion over medium heat in olive oil until it softens, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in garlic, cook for a minute, and sprinkle in flour. Cook 1 minute. Remove from heat and add bay leaf and milk all at once. Return to heat and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon, 5 minutes or until sauce thickens. If any flour lumps remain, whisk with a wire whisk for a few moments. Remove from heat, discard bay leaf and set aside.
3. Combine pasta with sauce and mix in diced bell pepper, mustard seeds, thyme, paprika, chili powder, prepared mustard and dry mustard. Reserve about 1/2-cup grated cheese and add remaining to pasta. Stir in olives and hot sauce. Taste and add salt and pepper to taste. Pour into a 2 1/2-quart casserole. Sprinkle top with reserved cheese and breadcrumbs. Dot with butter.
4. Bake 30 minutes or until topping is golden, the cheese melted and the crumbs crispy.

Reviews

[Chef 1086570]

Very very good. Fairly easy to make and can be used as a main dish or a side dish. The prep time is 20 min at least. I reserved the water from the pasta but did not know where to use it. I will make it again I enyoyed it. I thank the chef for their recipe