Mac n' cheese with a twist!!

As you will come to find if you read my blog I love to cook, especially for others.  I am always trying new things every time I go grocery shopping.  My newest endeavor is called four cheese with bacon...while my sister would probably say it is not very healthy it was amazing, fantastic and made my tummy happy!! 

Four Cheese with Bacon
1 box of cavatappi (I used cellentani looked the same)
6 slices of bacon, diced (I used the already cooked and diced bacon in the salad/crouton section)
2 Tbsp unsalted butter
1/2 Tbsp olive oil
3 Tbsp flour
2 Cups 2% milk
1/2 tsp onion flakes
1/4 salt
1/4 pepper
1/2 lb shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 Cup shredded colby-jack
1 Cup shredded mozzerella cheese
8 slices of American cheese

Heat oven to 350 degrees, coat a 3 quart cooking dish with a light spray.  Cook pasta according to directions.  Meanwhile in a medium-sized saucepan, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp, 6 minutes.  Transfer to paper towels.  Carefully pour off drippings, returning 2 Tbsp into a the pan.  (I skipped this whole cook the bacon step because I bought bacon already cooked and diced!! This is the need for the olive oil because I don't have the drippings and wouldn't use them if I did.) Add butter.

Whisk in the flour until smooth. In a thin stream, whisk in milk.  Stir in onion flakes, salt and pepper.  Bring to boil over medium-high heat, then reduce heat and simmer 2 minutes.  In a largbe bow, toss together cheddar, colby-jack and mozzarella cheese. 

Remove milk mixture from heat; whisk in American cheese and 1 1/4 cups of cheese mixture.  Toss bacon pieces with remaining shredded cheese. Meanwhile drain pasta.  In the pasta pot combine cooked pasta and cheese sauce.  Pour half into prepared dish.  Sprinkle with a generous cup of the bacon-cheese mixture.  Repeat layering.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.  Increase oven temperature to broil and broil for 3 minutes or until top is lightly browned.  Cool slightly before serving.

IT IS AMAZING!!! It is creamy, yet has the crunchy top at the same time...oh man yummy is all I can say!! I hope you try it and love it like I did!! Hopefully there will be more yummy recipes to come!  Hopefully you are still enjoying my blog!