Three Cheese Mac 'n Cheese

In honor of the twins, I am making Mac 'n Cheese for a Christmas Dinner side dish. A friend of mine made Martha's three cheese mac and cheese for a Potluck Dinner I attended. I think the twins will love it. As well as the adults!

Three Cheese Mac n Cheese

By: Martha Stewart

Number 46

Serves 8

Ingredients

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for baking dish

Coarse salt and ground pepper

1 pound medium pasta shells

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon dry mustard powder

4 cups whole milk

4 ounces sharp white cheddar cheese, coarsely grated (1 cup)

4 ounces Havarti cheese, coarsely grated (1 cup)

4 ounces Muenster cheese, coarsely grated (1 cup)

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

6 slices white sandwich bread

Directions

1.Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Butter a shallow 4-quart baking dish (oval or 9-by-13-inch rectangle); set aside.

2.Generously salt boiling water; add pasta. Cook, according to package instructions, until 2 minutes short of al dente. Drain pasta, and return to pot.

3.While pasta is cooking, melt butter in a large saucepan over medium. Transfer 2 tablespoons melted butter to a small bowl; set aside for topping. Add flour and mustard powder to remaining butter in saucepan. Cook, whisking, 1 minute (do not let flour darken). Whisk in milk. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until sauce is thickened, 2 to 3 minutes.

4.Remove sauce from heat. Gradually whisk in cheeses; add Worcestershire sauce, and season generously with salt and pepper. Add sauce to pasta, and toss to combine; transfer to prepared baking dish.

5.Place bread in food processor; pulse until very coarse crumbs form (you should have about 3 cups). Add reserved melted butter, and pulse just to moisten. Scatter crumbs over pasta in baking dish. (If making ahead, cover and refrigerate up to 1 day.)

6.Place dish on a rimmed baking sheet, and bake until topping is golden and sauce is bubbling, 15 to 20 minutes. (If refrigerated, bake for 30 to 35 minutes.) Cool 5 minutes before serving.

Cook's Note: In reading the reviews, I have found that you can substitute cheeses of your choice or adjust the amount of cheese to fit your needs. Additionally, you can substitute nutmeg for the mustard powder. As a Christmas dish, the nutmeg may be a nice option!

Happy Cheesing!

Laura

Read more at Marthastewart.com: Macaroni and Three Cheeses - Martha Stewart Recipes