Four Cheese Mac with Bacon

Oh talk about comfort food! I saw this recipe in a magazine today and thought, "Oh I gotta make that tonight!" Mac-n-cheese === with BACON! It probably should be called "High Cholesterol/Heart Attack on a Plate" instead, but either way it is Y U M M Y!

1 box (1 pound) cavatappi --- I used shells instead.

8 slices bacon - cooked and diced

1 tbsp butter

2 tbsp bacon grease - reserve from the hot pan when you finish cooking the bacon

3 tbsp flour

2 cups 2% milk

1/2 tsp dried onion flakes

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1/2 pound sharp cheddar cheese - shredded

1 cup colby-jack cheese - shredded

1 cup mozzarella cheese - shredded

8 slices of Kraft American cheese

*Boil noodles till tender and drain.

*Cook and crumble bacon and reserve 2 tbsp of grease.

*In the bacon pan with the grease, add the butter and whisk in the flour till smooth. Slowly whisk in the milk. Add the onion, salt and pepper. Bring to boil over medium high heat. Then reduce and simmer for 2 minutes.

*Remove from heat; whisk in American cheese slices till melted.

*Mix remaining cheeses together with the bacon pieces in a separate bowl.

*In the pasta pot, combine the cooked and drained pasta with the cheese sauce. Coat a baking dish with a non stick cooking spray. Pour half of the mixture into the baking dish.

*Sprinkle top with half of the cheese bacon mixture. Continue layering.

*Bake on 350 for about 17 - 20 minutes. Then broil for 3 minutes until the top is lightly browned. Cool slightly before serving.