This Ain’t Your Kid’s Mac & Cheese

Ingredients

• 2 Shallot chopped
• 4 Garlic chopped
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 6 slices Bacon
• 2 tablespoons AP flour
• 6 cup Half-and-half cream
• 1 teaspoon Thyme chopped
• 8 ounces Pepperjack cheese shredded
• 1 pound Cheddar cheese, sharp shredded
• 4 ounces Blue cheese
• Kosher Salt and black pepper as required
• 1 pound Penne pasta
• 1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs
• 2 tablespoons Parsley chopped
• 1 cup Bleu cheese
• 1 cup Parmesan shredded
• 1 cup Feta cheese

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350?.
2. Cook pasta according to instruction. Drain and rinse in cold water.
3. Create a roux with olive oil and flour. Cook shallot and garlic in roux for about 1 minute. Whisk in Half & Half and Thyme into roux. Reduce by a third. Stir in cheddar, 4 oz blue cheese and pepperjack. Stir until cheeses are melted, creamy and thicked. Remove heat. Season to taste. DO NOT BURN.
4. Gently stir pasta into cheese sauce. Sprinkle some of the blue, feta and parmesan into the mix. Pour mixture into a 13x9 pan. In a small bowl, mix butter, bread crumbs and parsley. Cover mixture with remaining cheese and bread crumb mixture. Bake for about 25 minutes or until bubbly and brown.