MACARONI AND CHEESE

MACARONI  AND  CHEESE:

INGREDIENTS:        (serves 4 )

300  g macaroni,cooked
1  tbsp  butter
1  small onion, finely chopped
900  g spinach, torn
250  g beef bacon, fried and chopped
200  g cheddar cheese, grated
3  tbsp  dried breadcrumbs

For bechamel sauce:
500  ml  milk
1/2  onion, sliced
6  black peppercorns
1  each, bay leaf and parsley sprig
70  ml  butter
60  ml cake flour
Nutmeg powder, salt and pepper, to season
125  ml  cream

METHOD:

• Heat some butter in a pan and fry onion until soft.  Add spinach and stir until dry. Spoon it into the base of an oven dish and sprinkle bacon over.
• Stir in half the cheese into bachamel sauce and mix with macaroni. Spoon over bacon and sprinkle remaining cheese over.
• Sprinkle breadcrumbs and dot with remaining butter. Bake in a preheated oven for 30 minutes at 180C until golden brown.
• For bachamel sauce: Heat milk, onion, peppercorns, bay leaf and parsley until just before boiling point.
• keep aside for 10 minutes and sieve . Melt 60 ml butter in a saucepan and stir in flour. Add milk and stir over mild heat with a whisk until smooth and thick.
• Season and stir in cream. Leave to simmer for a further minute.