Salsa-spiked Macaroni And Cheese

Total Time: 1 hr Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups uncooked macaroni
• 3 cups milk (low fat ok)
• 125 g light cream cheese
• 2 cups grated old cheddar cheese
• 1/3 cup flour
• 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
• 1 -2 teaspoon dijon mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4-1/2 teaspoon cayenne (optional)
• 1 cup salsa
• 4 green onions, thinly sliced
• 1 cup buttered bread crumb (optional)

Recipe

• 1 following the package directions, cook macaroni in boiling water for the minimum cooking time- usually 7 minutes.
• 2 drain& rinse with cold running water to stop the cooking process.
• 3 drain well& place in an ungreased baking dish large enough to hold 8 cups.
• 4 meanwhile, pour milk into a large saucepan, over medium heat until milk is steaming hot.
• 5 do not boil.
• 6 cut cream cheese into 1/2 inch cubes.
• 7 combine grated cheddar& flour in a small bowl.
• 8 as soon as the milk is hot, stir in cream cheese cubes until they melt.
• 9 continuing to stir, gradually sprinkle in the cheddar/flour mixture, then the parmesan, mustard, salt, paprika& cayenne.
• 10 stirring frequently, cook until cheeses melt& sauce is smooth (about 3 or 4 more minutes).
• 11 pour sauce over cooked macaroni& stir until coated.
• 12 fold in salsa& green onions just until evenly distributed.
• 13 smooth top.
• 14 cover& bake in the center of a preheated 350f oven until hot& bubbly, about 30- 35 minutes.
• 15 for extra crunch, uncover& sprinkle with buttered breadcrumbs during the last 10 minutes of baking time.
• 16 tip: whirl 2 or 3 bread slices in food processor until crumbs form; add 1 tbsp melted butter& whirl until crumbs are coated.