Macaroni Cheese

Method

• step 1

  Peel Onion, and cut into 4 pieces. Place in a saucepan with the milk and a pinch of salt and pepper, and bring to the boil. Turn off the heat, cover and leave for an hour, then strain through a colander, and reserve the milk.

• step 2

  Tip Macaroni into a large pan of boiling salted water, and simmer for 10 mins. Drain in a colander and refresh with cold water

• step 3

  Melt butter in a small pan, and gently fry lardons of Smoked Bacon for about 3 minutes until beginning to brown, then remove from plan with a slotted spoon, and set aside in a bowl.

• step 4

  Tip flour into butter and bacon fat, and combine to form a roux. Add the reserved milk a bit at a time, whisking between additions to keep the sauce smooth. Bring to the boil and simmer for 5 minutes.

• step 5

  Cut slices of bread into soldiers, and wizz in a food processor until coarse crumbs are formed, then stir in a handful of grated cheese.

• step 6

  Add the remaining grated cheese to the white sauce, along with the mustard powder or mustard and stir in well.

• step 7

  Combine the cooked Macaroni, the bacon and the cheese sauce and stir together well. Place mixture in a large greased ovenproof dish.

• step 8

  Top with the breadcrumb and grated cheese mix, and bake in the oven at 180 degrees C (160 degrees C fan oven) for 45 minutes. Serve immediately with salad or peas, and allow yourself some ketchup if you like it!