Mac and Cheese

Okay, the recipe is from Martha Stewart, but good mac and cheese is good mac and cheese.

Ingredients:
4 Tbs unsalted butter
bread crumbs or crusts
2.75 c milk
1/4 c flour
1 tsp salt
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp pepper
1/8 tsp cayenne
2 c sharp cheddar cheese
1 c gruyere or pecorino romano
1# elbow macaroni

Preheat oven to 375'
Butter a 1.5 quart casserole dish and set aside.

Melt 2Tbs butter and pour over bread crumbs in medium bowl. Set aside.

Warm milk in a saucepan over medium heat. Melt remaining butter in a high sided skillet over medium heat. When butter bubbles, add flour. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute

While whisking, add hot milk a little at a time to keep flour mixture smooth. Continue cooking, whisking constantly, until mixture bubbles and thickens - 8 to 12 minutes.

Remove pan from heat. Stir in salt, nutmeg, peppers and most of the cheese (reserving some to sprinkle on top). Set cheese sauce aside.

Cover large pot of salted water and bring to a boil. Cook the macaroni until outside of pasta is done and inside is underdone - 3-4 minutes. Transfer macaroni to a colander and rinse under cold running water. Drain well and stir macaroni into cheese sauce.

Pour mixture into prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle remaining cheese and buttered bread crumbs over the top.

Bake until golden, approximately 30 minutes. Let stand 5 min before serving.