Hatch Chili Macaroni and Cheese

DIRECTIONS

• Preheat oven to 350F and spritz a casserole dish with cooking spray.
• Puree the chile peppers in a food processor. (You may need to drizzle a bit of oil into the mixture to get the puree moving.).
• Cook the macaroni according to package directions to al dente tenderness and drain very well.
• In a medium saucepan, heat the butter over medium heat.
• When melted, add the flour, salt, & pepper and whisk until bubbly and fully incorporated.
• Slowly add the milk, continuing to whisk until smooth.
• Bring the mixture to just under a simmer and begin slowly adding the cheese a handful at a time until all cheese is melted.
• Finally, add the chile puree to the mixture.
• Pour the cooked macaroni into the cheese sauce and stir to coat.
• Then transfer the entire mixture to a medium baking dish.
• Bake for 20 minutes or until bubbly and lightly browned on top.