Hubby's Tuna Pasta Bake

Another recipe that only hubby is allowed to make these days. I don't know what it is but he always makes it better than me! His mum used to make this all the time--she had 8 kids!

• Ready In: 50 mins
• Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

• 500  g macaroni, cooked al dente
• 3  tablespoons butter or 3  tablespoons margarine, reserve 1 tbs
• 2  tablespoons plain flour
• 800  ml  whole milk
• 500  g  kraft cheddar cheese, grated, reserve 1 cup
•  salt and pepper
• 1 (425 g) can tuna, drained
• 1⁄4 cup  breadcrumbs

Directions

1. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a medium saucepan.
2. Remove from the heat and mix in flour.
3. Return to the heat and cook on low stirring constantly for 2 minutes.
4. Keep mixing and add the milk in 1/4 cup lots, waiting for the sauce to thicken before adding more milk.
5. Then add the cheese less the 1 cup.
6. Stir until cheese is dissolved; add salt and pepper to your liking.
7. In a large baking tray layer half the macaroni on the bottom (I always spray the pan with cooking spray to make cleaning up easier).
8. Top that with half the tuna flakes.
9. Pour half the cheese sauce on top of that and bang the tray on the bench (Hubby says this is an important step).
10. Repeat the process. Don't forget to bang the tray on the bench again.
11. Sprinkle the reserved grated cheese on top and then the breadcrumbs.
12. Divide the reserved tbs butter into 4 and pop them on top.
13. Bake in a moderate 180 degree oven until golden and crunchy on top - about 20-30 minutes.
14. If you have prepared this earlier and put it in the fridge, cover the top with foil for the first 10 minutes and then take it off and cook a further 20-30 minutes.