Three-Cheese Pasta Bake

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter 
• 2 tablespoons flour 
• 1 pinch ground nutmeg 
• 8 oz gruyère cheese shredded divided
• 0.5 cup half-and-half 
• 1.5 cups milk 
• 0.3 cup parmesan cheese grated
• 8 oz penne pasta 
• 0.3 teaspoon pepper 
• 1 teaspoon salt 
• 4 oz cheddar cheese shredded white

Equipment

• sauce pan
• oven
• whisk
• baking pan

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 35
2. Prepare pasta according to package directions.
3. Meanwhile, melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
4. Whisk in flour; cook, whisking constantly, 1 minute. Gradually whisk in milk and half-and-half; cook, whisking constantly, 3 to 5 minutes or until thickened. Stir in Cheddar cheese, Parmesan cheese, 1/2 cup Gruyre cheese, and next 3 ingredients until smooth.
5. Stir together pasta and cheese mixture, and pour into 4 lightly greased 8-oz. baking dishes or 1 lightly greased 11- x 7-inch baking dish. (If using 8-oz. baking dishes, place in a jelly-roll pan for easy baking, and proceed as directed.) Top with remaining 1/2 cup Gruyre cheese.
6. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes or until golden and bubbly.
7. *Swiss cheese may be substituted.
8. Note: To make ahead, proceed with recipe as directed through Step (Do not top with remaining Gruyre cheese.) Cover and chill up to 8 hours.
9. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes.
10. Bake at 350 for 20 to 25 minutes or until bubbly. Increase oven temperature to 40
11. Top pasta mixture with remaining Gruyre cheese, and bake 10 more minutes or until golden.