Classic Macaroni and Cheese With Smoked Bacon, Aged Cheddar and

This recipe came from Derek Wagner, courtesy of the Food Network website. I did do a search for this before posting, but did not check all 20,000+ recipes to make sure there was no duplication. This is the only mac and cheese recipe my family likes! I always fully-cook my bacon beforehand and crumble it in when mixing everything to go in the oven, rather than prepare it the way the recipe suggests. I find the finished product is less greasy that way.

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Serves: 4-6
• Yields: 1 casserole

Ingredients

• 2 -3  tablespoons unsalted butter
• 8  ounces smoked bacon, chopped
• 1  lb elbow macaroni, uncooked
• 2 -3  tablespoons  extra-virgin olive oil
• 1  cup  vidalia onion, finely diced
• 2  tablespoons garlic, minced
• 2  tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 3  cups milk
• 1  cup heavy cream
• 1  teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1  teaspoon mustard powder
• 5  cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated and divided
• 1 1⁄2 cups parmesan cheese, grated and divided
•  kosher salt
•  cracked black pepper
• 1  lemon, juiced
• 2  tablespoons  chopped fresh sage leaves, plus leaves for garnish
• 2  tablespoons  chopped fresh flat-leaf Italian parsley, plus leaves for garnish

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Coat 2 baking dishes with the butter.
2. Place chopped bacon on a baking sheet and cook in oven until half cooked, about 10 minutes. Drain off excess grease, reserve bacon.
3. In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook elbow macaroni until al dente, about 8 to 10 minutes. Strain, toss lightly in olive oil, reserve.
4. In a saucepan, on medium-high heat, saute bacon with a light amount of olive oil. Add the onion and cook until translucent then add the garlic. Dust with flour, whisk in milk, cream, nutmeg, and mustard powder. Bring to simmer stirring constantly for several minutes. Whisk in 4 cups of Cheddar and half a cup of Parmesan. Stir until all the cheese is melted. Adjust the seasoning with salt, pepper and lemon juice. Fold in the pasta, sage and parsley.
5. Place into buttered baking dishes. Top with remaining cheeses and place dishes on baking tray and place in the oven. Bake until golden brown, about 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool about 5 minutes, garnish with parsley and sage leaves and serve!