Baked Cheddar Mac and Cheese

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups macaroni, elbow shells, or cavatappi
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
• 2 cups of sharp shredded cheddar cheese

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Bring a salted pot of water to a boil for the pasta. Cook pasta according to directions, minus about a minute. Drain and set aside if your sauce isn’t ready by the time the pasta is done.
3. While the pasta cooks, melt the butter in a skillet or pot large enough to hold the pasta when it’s done.
4. Add the flour and stir over medium heat until the mixture is lightly browned; 1-2 minutes.
5. Add the milk and whisk to remove any lumps and then add the salt, pepper, and ground mustard.
6. Cook over medium-high heat until the sauce thickens and starts to bubble. About 6 minutes.
7. Stir in the cheese and whisk until smooth and melted. Turn off the heat.
8. Stir the pasta into the sauce and bake in a greased 2 quart dish (or an 8×8 pan works pretty well) 20-25 minutes until browned and bubbly.