Easy, Cheesy, Comfort Food

One of my all-time favorite comfort foods is macaroni and cheese, and I think plenty of other people can agree with me. There is something about macaroni and cheese that just warms the soul. I have cooked several, different versions of homemade macaroni and cheese, and I think I have discovered the best recipe.Plenty of delicious mac and cheese recipes call for three main ingredients:  milk, cheese and no, not butter... powdered mustard. In almost every version of homemade mac and cheese the recipe calls for powdered mustard. Here is a simple and delicious mac and cheese recipe I recently made and now want to share with you.

You will need:
Elbow macaroni noodles
Sharp cheddar cheese
Whole milk
1 yellow onion
Butter
Flour
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp paprika
1 large egg
Salt & Pepper
Panko bread crumbs

Begin by boiling the noodles in a large pot of salted, boiling water.
Meanwhile, chop the onion and add to a small saute pan with butter on med-low temp. You want the onion to caramelize and cook slowly.
In a separate pot, melt 3 tablespoons butter in a pan and add 3 tablespoons flour and 1 tablespoon powdered mustard- whisk for about two to three minutes, making sure it is free of lumps.
Stir in three cups of whole milk, bay leaf and paprika. Simmer the mixture for about ten minutes; remove bay leaf.
Temper in the egg, stir in one cup of cheese, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Fold in the macaroni noodles and pour into a large casserole dish.
Top the macaroni off with the caramelized onions, cheese and bread crumbs.

Bake in a 350 degrees oven for about thirty minutes. Bon Apetit!