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Four Cheese Baked Macaroni, Italian style

Source of Recipe

#12897, from msintrepid at recipezaar


Recipe Introduction

her comments: No Dieters allowed!! This is serious comfort food.

Recipe Link: www.recipezaar.com/recipe/getrecipe.zsp?id=12897

Four Cheese Baked Macaroni, Italian style

1/2 cup Italian style breadcrumbs
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons fresh Italian parsley, minced
1 tablespoon dried oregano
salt and pepper
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 1/2 cups half-and-half
12 ounces ziti pasta or penne or farfalle pasta
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 medium onion, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons flour
1 cup Provolone cheese, grated
1 cup Bel Paese cheese or Gorgonzola, grated
2 cups Fontina cheese, grated

Heat oven to 375.
Mix first 4 ingredients with a pinch of salt and pepper in a bowl; set
aside.
Cook Pasta al dente, drain and rinse under cold water.
Set pasta aside.
Heat 4 Tablespoons of the butter, add onions and saute, stirring until
onions are translucent.
Add garlic, stir until garlic is fragrant.
Add flour; lower heat and cook, stirring frequently.
Add half and half a 1/2 cup at a time, stirring after each addition, until
sauce thickens.
Stir in the cheeses, saving 1 cup of the Fontina.
Simmer until cheese is melted and sauce is creamy.
Taste and adjust salt and pepper.
Add Cayenne.
Use cooking spray to coat casserole- you should need about a 3 qt size.
Place pasta in casserole.
Top with sauce, stir to distribute evenly.
Place reserved fontina on top.
Sprinkle bread crumbs.
Dot with remaining butter.
Bake 40 minutes, until top is brown and it's bubbly.
Makes 6 servings.