Not Your Average Mac and Cheese

Normally when people don’t feel well they don’t want to eat…. Well when I don’t feel well all I want to do is eat! So what’s a better comfort food than Mac and Cheese?

This is my ‘grown up’ version that has a great zing to it from the gorgonzola but also a great creaminess from the fontina cheese. This will likely only give us about 4 servings… Remember? We eat a lot :p

Ingredients:

• 2 Tbsp butter
• 2 Tbsp flour
• 1 1/2 c 2% milk (not using whole milk or heavy cream makes it a little healthier)
• Salt and pepper
• 1 lb rigatoni pasta
• ¾ c gorgonzola cheese
• 1 c fontina cheese; shredded
• ½ c shredded Italian cheese blend
• ¼ c Parmesan cheese; grated
• ½ c panko crumbs
• ¼ c Parmesan cheese; grated
• 2 tsp dried oregano
• Salt and pepper

Directions:

• Heat oven to 500 degrees.
• Cook pasta as directed.
• Combine panko crumbs, Parmesan cheese and oregano in a small bowl.
• Combine rest of cheeses into a large bowl, season with salt and pepper.
• Melt butter in a small saucepan then add flour. Whisk until flour is dissolved. Add milk and whisk to combine. Let simmer for one minute and season with salt and pepper.
• Drain pasta and add to bowl with cheese, pour cream sauce on top and cover for 5 minutes.
• Uncover and stir to combine all cheeses, pasta and sauce.
• Add to 9x11 baking dish and bake for 8 minutes.
• Let rest 5 minutes.

Enjoy!