Macaroni and Cheese

Step 1

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Spray bottom and sides of a shallow 6 cup meta baking dish with olive oil spray or pam (ceramic works fine also).
3. Bring water to boil and add a tbsp salt. Boil macaroni until just tender. Drain well.
4. Immediately turn macraoni into the baking dish (a flat pan exposes more surface area so more crispness than a loaf pan). This goes under the broiler later so be sure it can do that.
6. Toss macaroni with the tbsp of olive oil. Then add cheese, ham / bacon, milk, salt and fresh ground pepper. Mix well.
7. Bake for 10 minutes then remove from oven, stir. Taste for seasoning and add salt and pepper if needed.
8. Sprinkle fresh bread crumbs and parmesan on top. Bake for another 15 minutes. If there's still milk in the bottom return to the oven for another 5 to 10 minutes. If topping has not browned / crisped, stick it under the broiler while watching until it browns. 3 to 4 inches from heat.