Not Your Mama's Mac n Cheese

Ok. So I have this thing with Mac & Cheese and my Mom HATES it about me. I can't stand homemade Mac & Cheese. Whenever she makes her homemade Mac & Cheese I always make a Kraft blue box on the side...

This recipe is really really tasty though!

Give it a whirl!

Ingredients:

Salt

1 pound elbow pasta

4 cups skim milk

2 sprigs fresh thyme

3 garlic cloves minced

3 tablespoons flour

4 ounces pepper jack cheese grated

4 ounces sharp cheddar grated

6 slices bacon

2 tablespoons butter

1 to 2 teaspoons Tabasco sauce

Prep:

Preheat oven to 350. Prepare one large baking dish with cooking spray. (or 4 small for individual servings)

Recipe:

In a large pot cook elbows until al dente about 5 minutes. Drain elbows and set aside. Bring pot back to burner on medium high and cook bacon until crisp. Drain bacon on paper towels and set aside. Add 2 tablespoon butter to bacon drippings and add thyme leaves and garlic, cook for 2 minutes. Add flour and stir for 2 minutes. Add 3 cups of milk and stir with whisk cook until thick and bubbly. Add remainder of milk 1/4 cup at the time if needed. Add cheese's and stir until combined. Stir in Tabasco sauce. One teaspoon for a kick, 2 teaspoons for a punch. Add elbows to cheese mixture and stir until combined. Place elbows in baking dish and top with crumbled bacon. Bake until sides bubble about 25 minutes.

Enjoy!