2913. MACARONI and CHEESE BAKE with BACON and COTTAGE CHEESE

makes six servings


1 lb. cooked elbow macaroni drained
3/4 lb. medium sliced cheddar or american cheese
1-1/2 cups whole milk
1 medium chopped yellow onion
4 oz. crispy cooked bacon, crumbled
3 tablespoons flour
1 4 oz. jar chopped pimentos
1 4 oz. can chopped mild chilies
3 tablespoons chili sauce
12 oz. small curd cottage cheese
3 tablespoons salted butter

Melt butter, saute onion till softened, add flour to make rue. Add milk 1/2 cup at a time while stirring and add sliced cheese slowly to make a rich thick cheese sauce. Fold in chilies, Sambal, pimentos, bacon, and cottage cheese, stirring gently till just mixed. Layer macaroni then sauce in a 9x13 baking dish and bake 45 minutes or until sauce is mostly absorbed. Cool to desired temperature, cut in squares and serve.


bacon recipe courtesy of: nick1126 (member), Epicurious.com, December 25, 2012