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BLT Mac and Cheese
Bobbi's Kozy Kitchen
Published 11/01/2014
Ingredients
- 8 ounces elbow macaroni
- 1 large head lettuce, chopped into 1-inch pieces
- 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- Kosher salt
- Freshly cracked black pepper
- 8 strips thick cut bacon, chopped
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk, warmed
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
- Freshly grated nutmeg to taste
- 1 15-ounce can fire roasted tomatoes, drained
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 1/2 cups Italian style bread crumbs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the macaroni according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.
- Toss the lettuce with 2 tablespoon of the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast on a baking sheet until the lettuce is wilted, about 15 minutes, tossing the lettuce half way through. Set aside to cool.
- In a an oven-safe large skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon with the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil until the fat renders and it begins to crisp. Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and reserve on a paper towel, leaving 1/4 cup of fat in the pan. Add the flour and cook for a minute, making sure the flour and fat have completely combined. Slowly whisk in the warm milk and continue whisking until smooth. Continue to cook until the mixture begins to thicken. Stir in the mustard and remove from heat.
- Add the cheddar and Swiss cheese in small amounts to the pan, stirring to make sure it has completely melted before adding more, then add the nutmeg. Fold in the drained macaroni until it is evenly coated, then add the lettuce, tomatoes and bacon.
- Melt the butter in a saute pan and toss the bread crumbs to coat.
- Top the macaroni with the bread crumbs. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and rest for five minutes before serving.
Prep Time: 00 hrs. 15 mins.
Cook time: 00 hrs. 30 mins.
Total time: 45 mins.
Tags: pasta, cheddar cheese, Swiss cheese, bacon, tomato, lettuce, Budget Meals, Main Dishes,
Slightly adapted from a recipe by Geoffry Zacharian
*Note - If reheating this in the microwave, add a bit of milk, cook for about a minute and half on high, stir and heat for an additional minute or so (times depend on the wattage of your microwave).
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