Macaroni & Cheese with Bacon Recipe

Macaroni & Cheese needs no introduction to anyone. It's incredibly simple, comforting and can be fancied up or eaten in it's most basic form to great appreciation. I bought some delicious looking macaroni from the Easter Show by Pasta Italia and thought that now was as good as time as ever to make some for my macaroni cheese loving husband.

Bacon can improve anything, and I mean anything. Having a bad day? Eat some bacon. I even think that you could make a very good bacon macaron.

There is a a method to my madness in specifying such a large baking tray. You see I love the crunch on top of the cheesey breadcrumbs which contrasts with the creamy soft bottom layer. The larger baking tray allows for a shallower but wider distribution of the pasta and therefore breadcrumbs. Of course if you just like a little of the crunch put it in a  deeper dish and use less breadcrumbs but if you were to ever to eat this at Chez Elliott, you'd find this version.

Macaroni & Cheese with Bacon

An original recipe by Lorraine Elliott

Preparation time: 25 minutes

Cooking time: 30 minutes

Serves: 4 people

• 400g/14ozs fresh macaroni pasta

• 1 tablespoon oil

• 2 rashers middle bacon, sliced into bite sized pieces

• 1/2 white or brown onion, chopped

• 1 1/4 cups/300ml/19.6flozs cream (you could also do this with evaporated milk although of course it won't be as creamy, if you do, use 2 1/4 cups evaporated milk and omit the milk below)

• 1 cup/250ml/8.8flozs milk

• 1 1/4 cups/125g/4ozs grated tasty cheese

• 3/4 cup/75g/2.7ozs gruyere cheese

• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

• 1/2 cup dried breadcrumbs

• 1/2 cup/50g/1.7ozs grated tasty cheese extra

• 2 tablespoons of butter, cut into cubes

Step 1 - Preheat oven to 180C/350F. Cook macaroni according to directions in plenty of salted boiling water until al dente - ensure that it does not get too soft. Drain and set aside.

Step 2 - Grease a large (about 30x25cms/12x9inch) baking dish. In the saucepan heat the oil and fry the onion and bacon until onion is soft and translucent and bacon is cooked-about 5 minutes. Then add the cream, milk and nutmeg and wait until it comes to a boil, turn it down to a simmer and add the cheeses and macaroni.

Step 3 - Pour into the prepared baking dish and sprinkle with the breadcrumbs and extra cheese. Dot with butter and then bake for 5-10 minutes or place under hot grill under crumbs are crunchy and cheese and butter has melted. Serve and swoon.