Bacon Mac with Green Onions

Yield: 6 Servings (approximately 1 cup)

Side note: Prep everything in advance. Once the pasta begins boiling start the sauce.  The milk takes longer than anticipated to boil

Ingredients:

• 3 1/4  teaspoons  salt, divided
• 12  ounces  whole wheat penne pasta
• 4  teaspoons all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2  cups  skim milk, divided
• 2  cups finely shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided (I like the New Zealand Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese from Trader Joe's)
  
• 1/4  cup  sliced green onions or Chives
  
• 1  teaspoon  hot sauce (the spicer, the better)
  
• 1/4  teaspoon  pepper
• 2  slices center-cut bacon, cooked and crumbled
• Cooking spray

 The How To:

1. Preheat broiler.

2. Bring 6 quarts water and 1 tablespoon salt to a boil. Add pasta; cook 8 minutes or until al dente; drain.

3. Combine flour and 1/2 cup milk in a saucepan over medium heat. Gradually add 1 cup milk; bring to a boil. Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; let stand 4 minutes or until it cools to 155°. Stir in 1 1/2 cups cheese. Add 1/4 teaspoon salt, onions, hot sauce, pepper, and bacon; stir. Add pasta; toss. Spoon into a 2-quart broiler-safe dish coated with cooking spray; top with 1/2 cup cheese. Broil 7 minutes.

Side note: Since I forgot to put the chives in during set 3 we blended them in the magic bullet with the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese that needed to be grated.  This made like cream cheese like consistency that was delicious and that I put on chunks of the pasta concoction to be broiled.  The finished product will not be green on top if you follow the above directions. 

Cooking is like love. It should be entered into with abandon or not at all.  

- Harriet Van Horne