Bacon Macaroni & Cheese

Adapted from Giada De Laurentiis' Recipe

If a recipe has bacon in it, I really need no justification to make it.  In this case, I'm pretty sure the recipe didn't even call for bacon (or breadcrumbs for that matter!) but I added it on my own.  This is a perfect comfort food for a rainy day in front of the fireplace with a movie and and a glass of white wine.  You can really use any three cheeses you want, but I definitely recommend keeping one of them as mozzarella since it doesn't have too strong of a flavor and can balance out the other cheeses.  My favorite combination is the one listed in the recipe.  Enjoy! 

Yields: 4 - 6 servings 

Ingredients:

• organic PAM spray, for greasing dish
• 12 ounces organic pipe rigate pasta (or any short pasta)
• 2 cups organic heavy cream
• 2 1/2 cups organic whole milk
• 2 tablespoons organic all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more for pasta water
• 1/4 teaspoon organic freshly ground black pepper
• 2 cups (packed) grated Fontina
• 3/4 cup (packed) organic finely grated Parmesan
• 3/4 cup (packed) grated mozzarella
• 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
• 4 slices cooked organic bacon, crumbled

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

Grease a 13 by 9-inch glass baking dish and set aside.  Cook the noodles in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes.  Drain well, but do not rinse.

 Whisk the cream, milk, flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and pepper in large bowl to blend.  Stir in 1 cup Fontina, 1/2 cup Parmesan and 1/2 cup mozzarella.  Add the noodles and toss to coat.  Transfer the noodle mixture to the prepared baking dish.  Toss the remaining 1 cup Fontina, 1/4 cup Parmesan and 1/4 cup mozzarella in a small bowl to blend.  Sprinkle the cheese mixture over the noodle mixture.  Sprinkle the breadcrumbs and bacon on top of the noodle mixture.  Bake until the sauce bubbles and the cheese melts and begins to brown on top, about 20 minutes. Let stand for 20 minutes before serving.

Note: It may seem runny when it comes out of the oven -- after 15 - 20 minutes of setting, it will thicken up.