Macaroni and Cheese

Bacon plus Wisconsin Feta Cheese combine to create this indulgent and intensely yummy macaroni and cheese. Cheddar macaroni and cheese is sort of becoming a thing of the past for me. I considered adding some fresh herbs to this pasta, but I decided to skip it because I really wanted the flavors of the cheese to shine. If you absolutely can’t resist adding something, I’d recommend fresh dill or fresh basil, two of my favorites which pair perfectly with Feta Cheese. If you wanted, you could also substitute the Wisconsin Provolone Cheese with a Wisconsin semi-hard cheese of your choice such as Swiss or Gruyere, but in my opinion Provolone is the perfect fit for this dish. I chose it because I wanted a milder cheese to pair with the tang of the Feta Cheese. I can nearly guarantee this flavorful twist on macaroni and cheese will become an instant hit in your home just as it has in mine. 

Yield: 6 Servings

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

3 cups or 12 ounces dry elbow macaroni

3 tablespoons flour

3 tablespoons butter

2 1/2 cups milk, preferably 2%

1 1/3 cups or 8 ounces Wisconsin Feta Cheese, crumbled and divided

1 1/2 cups or 6 ounces Wisconsin Provolone Cheese, shredded

8 slices bacon, fried, diced and divided

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions

• Cook pasta according to package directions; drain well; set aside.
• Meanwhile, in medium saucepan, melt butter, whisk in flour and cook, stirring constantly, 1 minute. While whisking vigorously, slowly pour in milk and whisk until well combined. Bring mixture to gentle boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to low and simmer about 2 minutes, stirring frequently, until thickened.
• Add 2/3 cup Feta Cheese and Provolone Cheese to milk mixture; cook over low heat, stirring constantly until Provolone has melted (Feta won't fully melt). Season mixture with salt and pepper to taste.
• Add drained pasta to sauce mixture and toss to coat; add 3/4 of diced bacon and toss. Pour mixture into buttered 11 x 7-inch baking dish. Sprinkle top evenly with remaining diced bacon and Feta Cheese. Move oven rack three racks below broiler and set oven to broil on high, cook macaroni under hot broiler until Feta Cheese is golden brown, 1 - 3 minutes, watching closely so it doesn't burn. Serve warm.