Bacon & Gouda Macaroni and Cheese

I am always making a homemade mac and cheese for Ethan, he is obsessed with it. I don't mind it, I actually enjoy it. I would much rather him eat this than the stuff from the box. I make a pan of this and it makes a ton, he can have it for leftovers for the rest of the week and for sides with dinner. In all of my experimenting with mac and cheese, he has been a really great guinea pig, he secretly loves it. This is in his top two favorites, the other one is pretty spicy and this one is just yummy, cheesey, and bacony.

This has quickly become one of my signature dishes, if someone asks me to bring something to a dinner or a party, this is usually it. It is always a crowd pleaser. After we made the Bacon & Gouda Stuffed Pork Tenderloin, I realized bacon and gouda is a match made in heaven. I don't think you can ever go wrong with those two. This mac and cheese dish is another dish that proves my theory, delicious.
Source: Shugary Sweets

Ingredients:
16 oz. of Elbow Macaroni, cooked and drained
4 tablespoons of Butter
2 1/4 cup of Skim Milk
1/2 cup of Flour
1 1/4 cup of Heavy Cream
2 teaspoons of Kosher Salt
1 teaspoon of Ground Black Pepper
1/2 teaspoon of Dry Mustard
2 teaspoons of Worcestershire
1 lb. of Smoked Gouda Cheese, shredded
1/2 lb. of Sharp Cheddar Cheese, shredded
2 cups of Breadcrumbs or Ritz Crackers, crumbled
3 tablespoons of Butter, melted
1/2 cup of Bacon, cooked and crumbled

Directions:
First, pre-heat your oven to 375 degrees.

Next, prepare your macaroni according to the directions on the package. Drain and set aside.

Now, in a large pot, melt the butter over medium high heat. When the butter has melted, add the skim milk and bring to a boil. When boiling, reduce heat to medium and sprinkle the flour in; whisk vigorusly for 1-2 minutes. The mixture should be thick and boiling; add in the heavy cream, while whisking. Now add in the salt, pepper, mustard, and worcestershire. Reduce the heat to low and contine to stir for about 5 minutes. Add the shredded gouda and cheddar, one handful at a time, until it has been melted and combined completely. Stir in the cooked pasta.

Next, pour the macaroni and cheese into a 13x9 baking dish. Set aside.

Now, add the melted butter to the breadcrumbs or crackers. Sprinkle over the top of the baking dish and then top with crumbled bacon.

Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes.

Enjoy!

Happy Cooking,
The Barbee Housewife