Macaroni and Cheese

How to make Macaroni and Cheese Recipe - is an enormously important Italian contribution to American cooking. Macaroni, shaped in long sticks, could have been the first pasta to be in general use among Americans of all ethnic backgrounds.

Makes 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients:
2-1/2 cups elbow macaroni, or long macaroni, broken into 1-inch pieces
1 small onion, peeled
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2-1/4 cups milk
1 teaspoon mustard powder
1 teaspoon salt
Dash of freshly ground black pepper
2 eggs
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
Butter

Method:
Cook macaroni in boiling water with 1 onion added, until macaroni is tender but firm to the bite. Drain macaroni; discard onion.

Preheat oven to 400F (205C). While macaroni cooks, heat butter in a small saucepan. Stir in flour and cook 1 minute. Add milk, a little at a time. Cook, stirring, until sauce thickens and bubbles.

Add mustard, salt and pepper. In a small bowl, whisk eggs. Add a small amount of sauce to eggs, then mix egg mixture into sauce. Set aside about 1/4 cup cheese for top.

In a 2-quart baking dish or casserole, arrange alternate layers of macaroni and cheese.

Pour sauce over all; sprinkle with reserved cheese, bread crumbs and some small pieces of butter. Bake 35 minutes or until top is browned.