Macaroni And Cheese (j. Alexander's Version)

Total Time: 1 hr 20 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 8 ounces pipette pasta
• 3 tablespoons butter, divided (plus extra to grease pan)
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1/2 onion, minced
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 2 1/4 cups gruyere cheese, divided
• fresh ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup fresh breadcrumb

Recipe

• 1 boil 6 cups water and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt to a boil in a medium pot. add macaroni and cook until tender, about 8 minutes. drain and put in a large bowl.
• 2 melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. heat oven to 350°f whisk in flour and cook 3 minutes, whisking constantly.
• 3 gradually whisk in heavy cream.
• 4 stir in onion, bay leaf, and paprika. simmer 15 minutes, stirring often.
• 5 remove from heat and stir in 1 1/2 cups gruyere. season to taste with salt and pepper and remove bay leaf.
• 6 stir in pasta.
• 7 pour half of the pasta mixture into a deep 1 1/2-quart, buttered baking dish. sprinkle with half of the remaining cheese. top with remaining pasta mixture, then add the remaining cheese.
• 8 melt 1 tablespoon butter in a small skillet over medium heat. add bread crumbs and toss to coat. sprinkle bread crumbs on top of macaroni and cheese.
• 9 bake 30 minutes or until bread crumbs are lightly browned. cook 5 minutes then serve.