In The Kitchen-Macaroni & Cheese

First, I apologize this is up late. I've been a bit busy today and this is my first chance to sit down.

Second, hello to all the visitors from Christian Clippers. I hope you enjoy the site.

Finally, here's today's recipe. It's my own, although I originally published it on A Year of Baking. Enjoy!

It will take you about an hour or so to make this, so plan ahead.

Ingredients:
3 cups milk
A whole lot of water (enough to fill a large pot 3/4 the way full)
Pinch of salt (optional)
4-8 slices of bacon (turkey bacon can be substituted) (optional)
16 oz macaroni noodles
4 Tablespoons butter
3 1/2 Tablespoons all purpose flour
3 cups cheese (cheddar is the most common, but you can use most any cheese here. We use a cheddar/jack combo)
3/4 cup bread crumbs
Cooking Spray or a little more butter

First things first. Turn your oven on to 350 degrees so that while you start making it, your oven will preheat.

Fill your large pot 3/4 the way full with water and add a pinch of salt, if you're using it. Put it on the stove and get it up to a boil.

As the water does it's thing, pour the milk into a small pot and turn the heat onto medium-low/medium. Allow it to heat up. For me, it take about 10 to 15 minutes, but your stove may vary some. Also put the small or medium skillet on the stove and turn it to medium. Once it's hot, start cooking up your bacon. I used 8 slices of turkey bacon because it was left over from "breakfast for dinner" we had the other night. Once it's cooked, tear the bacon into little pieces or crumble it if well enough done (mine never seems to quite be that well done)

nce the water has come to a boil, add the macaroni noodles and cook according to the package directions. If your package gives a range of time, go with the shorter time. I cooked mine for 9 minutes. Once cooked, drain the water from the noodles.

Once the milk has heated through, remove it from the stove and let it stand in a corner (but don't call it Baby, cause Nobody puts Baby in a corner!). Add the butter to a medium saucepan and melt it on the stove. Once it's melted and looking foamy, add the flour. 

Stir them together until it resembles a brownish/yellowish flour mix.

Add the milk slowly to the butter/flour mixture and stir as you go. Once the milk has been thoroughly incorporated, remove from the heat. Add the cheese a cup at a time, stirring as you add them.

Grease the baking dish with either cooking spray or butter. Dump the noodles into the baking dish and pour the cheese mixture on top. Using the spoon, mix the two together. Add the bread crumbs on top, followed by the bacon.

Place the whole thing into the oven and let it cook for 25 to 30 minutes.

Allow it to cool for about 5 minutes, then serve. This is one meal that everyone, even my incredibly picky eater, will have seconds. It's incredibly creamy and so very good.