Macaroni and Cheese

Ingredients
2 cups milk
1 cup thickened / pouring cream
1 bay leaf
1 whole clove
1 cinnamon stick
60g butter
2 tbsps plain flour
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
salt, pepper
375 g macaroni
1 cup breadcrumbs
2 rashers of bacon/ turkey/ chicken ham- chopped and fried till crisp

Method

1) Preheat oven to 180 degrees celcius

2) Place milk and cream in pan with bay leaf, clove, cinnamon and bring to boil. Remove from heat allow to stand for 10 mins. Discard flavourings and leave aside to cool.

3) Melt butter in another pan and add flour. Stir over low heat for 1 min. Remove from heat. Gradually add milk and cream mixture, stirring until smooth. Return to heat. Cook, stirring constantly until sauce boils and thickens. Reduce heat and simmer for 3 mins. Remove from heat and add 1 cup of cheddar cheese and 1/4 cup of the parmesan cheese(not all the parmesan cheese!!!). Season with salt and pepper and set aside.

4) In rapidly boling water, add macaroni and cook until tender. Drain well and add macroni to the sauce and mix well. Then dish out unto a baking dish. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs, meat and remaining cheese. Bake for 15-20 mins till golden.

Variation:
You may add chopped cooked chicken to the sauce before mixing with the pasta.