Ruth's Diner - Gramma Claire's Macaroni and Cheese

Recipe courtesy Erik Nelson, chef and owner at Ruth's Diner in Salt Lake City, UT. Featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.

• Ready In: 1 hr
• Serves: 4-6
• Yields: 1 2 Quart Baking Dish Full

Ingredients

• 3  cups  uncooked macaroni noodles
• 1  cup  diced onion
• 1⁄4 cup  melted butter
• 1⁄4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3  cups milk
• 2  bay leaves
• 1  tablespoon paprika
• 2  teaspoons salt
• 1  teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 2 1⁄2 cups  grated cheddar cheese
• 2 1⁄2 cups  grated monterey jack cheese
• 1  cup cottage cheese

• For the topping

• 1⁄4 cup  melted butter
• 1⁄4 cup  breadcrumbs

Directions

1. Cook macaroni, drain do not rinse.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
3. In a large saute pan, saute the onions in butter. Add the flour to make a roux and cook for 1 minute. Add the milk, bay leaves, paprika, salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, stirring often. Mix the 2 cheeses together in a small bowl. Once the mixture is at a simmer, add 3 cups of cheese mixture and the cottage cheese. Stir well, remove from heat, and remove bay leaves from mixture. Add macaroni noodles to milk mixture, mix well.
4. Pour 1/2 of macaroni mixture into a 2-quart baking dish, cover with 1/2 of the remaining grated cheese, add remaining macaroni mixture and cover with the remaining grated cheese mixture.
5. In small bowl mix together the topping ingredients and top the macaroni.
6. Place into the 350 degree oven and bake until golden brown, about 45 minutes.