Best Ever Baked Macaroni & Cheese

Ingredients

• 4 cups uncooked pasta
• 8 Tablespoons butter
• 6 Tablespoons flour
• 1 1/2 cups whole milk
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
• 4 cups shredded cheese I used a blend of two cheeses
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons white pepper
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
• 1/4 cup crushed and buttered crackers optional

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325F
2. Grease a 9” x 13” casserole dish. Set aside.
3. In a large stockpot, melt the butter over medium heat.
4. Meanwhile, in a separate pot, prepare the macaroni according to package directions.
5. Once the butter is melted, whisk in flour to form a roux (paste). Add the seasoning, to taste.
6. Whisk in the milk and cream and set heat to medium-high.
7. Whisk in 3 cups of the cheese and continue whisking as the mixture cooks and thickens.
8. Drain the pasta but do not rinse.
9. When the cheese has completely melted into the sauce, pour the sauce over the cooked macaroni.
10. Fold the macaroni and cheese into the prepared casserole dish.
11. Top with remaining 1 cup of cheese.
12. melt 1 pat of butter with 6 ritz crackers and mix. sprinkled on top if desired before baking
13. Bake for 25 minutes, or until the cheese on top is browned and completely melted.
14. ENJOY!