Epic Mac and Cheese

To be epic with your mac and cheese, you will need at least:

13*9 glass Baking dish

6 qt Sauce pot (or larger)

1 hour of your life

*16oz Pasta (dry)

*3-4 cups Milk  + 2 sticks Butter + 1 tsp Salt

*1 tsp Dijon Mustard + 1 tsp Cayenne Pepper

*1 quart Half & Half + 1 stick Butter + 8 tsp Flour + 2 tsp Salt + 2 tsp Black Pepper

*5-6 cups Cheddar

*1.5-2 cups Bread Crumbs (seasoned)

Riffing on this recipe is good.  Eggs?  Might be nice.  More Flour?  Ok.  Weird Noodles?  Cool.  Bourbon BBQ Sauce?  Why Not.  Bacon?  Please.  Curry and Paprika?  Bring it on over.

To be epic with your mac and cheese, you will do something like this::

1. Preheat oven to 400°
2. Add Pasta, 3 cups Milk, 2 sticks Butter, 1 tsp Salt to Sauce pot.
1. Bring to simmer then turn to low
2. Cook 20-25 minutes, stirring frequently.
3. Add some or all of the last cup of Milk if pasta becomes too thick before at least al-dente
4. When pasta is done, stir in 1 tsp Dijon and 1 tsp Cayenne Pepper and set to side in a bowl and keep warm.  
1. The pasta will be fairly delish as-is at this point - it will seem to be in a very thick/tacky alfredo sauce
3. Butter a 13*9 glass baking dish
4. In the pot, melt 1 stick Butter.  Thoroughly whisk in 2 tsp Salt, 2 tsp Black Pepper, 8 tsp Flour, 1 quart Half & Half.
1. Bring to boil for 2 minutes
2. Reduce to low, stirring steadily, for 10 minutes
3. Stir in 4 cups Cheese.
5. Combine Pasta and Cheese Sauce in the Sauce pot
6. Spread out the mix in the glass Baking dish and spread evenly.
1. Cover completely with 1-2 cups of the remaining Cheddar.
2. Top with 1-2 cups of Bread Crumbs as needed to create a 95% solid layer.
7. Bake 20 minutes or until top is toasted golden-brown.
8. Enjoy
1. Try to let it cool first.
2. Try to save some for the people you invited over.