.... is a Big Kid Mac’n’Cheese Date

Ingredients:

12 oz Ziti Pasta*

4 oz Thick-Cut Bacon, Cut into ½” Pieces

2 Tbsp Flour

2 Cups Milk

4 oz Gruyere Cheese, Coarsely Shredded

4 oz Italian Fontina Cheese, Coarsely Shredded

2 oz Parmesan Cheese, Freshly Shredded 

1 Tbsp Chives, Chopped 

How to prepare:
Cook pasta according to the package directions.

Fry Bacon meanwhile in a medium saucepan over medium heat until brown and crisp, about 10 min. Transfer to paper towels to drain. 

Pour off all but 1 tbsp. fat from pan. Add flour and whisk over medium heat. Pour in Milk ¼ cup at a time, whisking well after each addition (it will be very thick at first) until incorporated and smooth. Add cheeses in 3 batches, whisking continually and making sure each batch is mostly melted before adding the next.

Drain Pasta, then stir into Cheese sauce (it will thicken upon standing). Divide Pasta among individual ramekins or bowls and top with Bacon and Chives.

*You can use any shape pasta, but ziti tubes are best at holding the molten cheese sauce.