Macaroni & Cheese

Makes 5 cups
cook time 45 min

Topping:
1/2 stick of butter melted
1 sleeve of saltine crackers, crushed

Ingredients:
1/2 lb of dry macaroni noodles - cooked
1 cup of reserved pasta water (from the cooked pasta)
2 Tblsp of unsalted butter
2 Tblsp all purpose flour
3/4 cup of whole milk
3/4 cup of heavy cream
pinch of nutmeg
2 cups of white Cheddar, shredded
4 oz of cream cheese

1. Pre-heat oven to 400
2. Rub the inside of 13x9 baking dish or 4 8oz small baking dishes with softened butter
3. Boil noodles in salted water according to package
   
4. Melt 1/2 stick of butter for topping in a small nonstick skillet over med heat. Add crackers and cook until lightly browned - about 5 mins. Season with salt, remove from heat & set aside.
5. Drain noodles making sure to save 1 cup of the water that they were boiled in - set both aside.
6. Melt 2 Tblsp butter in small saucepan over med heat
7. Whisk in flour, cook 1 min then gradually whisk in milk, cream and nutmeg.
8. Bring mixture to a boil - stirring constantly
9. Add cheeses, stirring until melted.
   
10. If sauce seems to thick, add the reserved pasta water as needed.
11. Mix with the noodles.
12. Coat baking dish with a thin layer of topping mixture, dump in the macaroni mixture and top with remaining topping mixture.
13. Bake 20 minutes