Macaroni and Cheese

Ingredients

• 6 cups sharp cheddar cheese extra-sharp grated
• 1 pound elbow macaroni 
• 6 tablespoons flour all-purpose
• 2 cups panko bread crumbs (coarse Japanese bread crumbs)
• 0.5 cup parmesan grated
• 1 stick butter unsalted
• 5 cups milk whole

Equipment

• bowl
• sauce pan
• oven
• whisk
• pot
• ramekin
• baking pan
• wax paper
• colander

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F with rack in middle.
2. Melt butter, then stir together with panko and topping cheeses in a bowl until combined well.
3. Melt butter in a heavy medium saucepan over medium-low heat and stir in flour. Cook roux, stirring, 3 minutes, then whisk in milk. Bring sauce to a boil, whisking constantly, then simmer, whisking occasionally, 3 minutes. Stir in cheeses, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper until smooth.
4. Remove from heat and cover surface of sauce with wax paper.
5. Cook macaroni in a pasta pot of boiling salted water (2 tablespoons salt for 4 quarts water) until al dente. Reserve 1 cup cooking water and drain macaroni in a colander. Stir together macaroni, reserved cooking water, and sauce in a large bowl.
6. Transfer to 2 buttered 2-quart shallow baking dishes.
7. Sprinkle topping evenly over macaroni and bake until golden and bubbling, 20 to 25 minutes.
8. · Topping can be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered. · Half of dish can be baked in 10 (6- to 8-ounce) ramekins for children (with remaining half baked in a 2-quart baking dish for adults).