Here’s a delicious side dish to bring to a special event or a holiday event.  It’s a cheesy, thick, white Cheddar cheese sauce that coats the macaroni, topped with a crisp topping. 

Yield:  10-12 servings

Ingredients

• Large elbow macaroni (3 1/2 cups)
• ½ cup butter
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• 4 cups milk
• 4 cups shredded White Cheddar cheese (16 ounces)
• 2 tsp. salt
• ½ tsp. ground pepper
• ½ tsp. hot sauce or Sriracha sauce

Topping

• 3 cups soft breadcrumbs
• 6 Tbsps melted butter

Directions

1. Cook the macaroni just until tender. Drain and set it aside.  Large saucepan.
2. Melt ½ cup of butter in a large saucepan over low heat.  Whisk in the flour until it’s smooth.  Cook for one minute, whisking constantly. Very large saucepan. 
3. Gradually whisk the milk in the pan.  Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until the mixture is thickened and bubbly. 
4. Add the cheese, salt, pepper, and hot sauce to the pan.  Keep stirring until the cheese melts.
5. Spoon the macaroni into a very large baking dish (13” x 9”) or another large baking dish.  Then pour in the cheese mixture, stirring it all together.
6. In a bowl, toss breadcrumbs with 6 Tbsps melted butter until crumbs are well coated.  Sprinkle over the macaroni. 
7. Bake uncovered at 350° for 30 minutes or until thoroughly heated and the top is golden. (You may need to bake it higher for the breadcrumbs to brown).

Make your own breadcrumbs – Using a French baguette or Plain Bagels, tear a few pieces and pulse the bread in a food processor or mini chopper until you get coarse crumbs.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. ” Romans 15:13 ESV