Macaroni cheese deluxe

Ingredients

• 9 ounces 250 grams macaroni (or your favourite small pasta shape)
• 8 ounces 225 grams bockwurst (or other smoked sausage such as viennas)
• 1 cup / 120 grams grated cheddar cheese (divided into 2 half cups)
• 1/2 cup / 60 grams grated mozzarella cheese
• 4 ounces / 110 grams soft cream cheese
• 2 ounces / 60 grams butter
• 2 1/2 tablespoons / 20 grams flour
• 2 cups milk
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 large tomato
• salt (to taste)
• ground black pepper (to taste)

Instructions

1. 1

   Cook your pasta according to the instructions on the packet, but give it 1 to 2 minutes less than the time stated on the packet.Drain the pasta in a colander and then run it under cold water to stop the cooking process.

2. 2

   --- Cheese sauce ---

3. 3

   Heat the butter in a saucepan over a medium heat until it is completely melted.Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the flour. Stir well to remove any lumps.Return the pan to the heat and stir for one minute to give the flour time to cook.

4. 4

   Add one-quarter of the milk and stir until the sauce starts to thicken, then add the remaining milk and continue to stir on a medium heat until the sauce has thickened completely. If you happen to find any lumps in the sauce, use a balloon whisk to whisk them out.The sauce should just coat the back of a spoon. It will thicken more when we add the cheese.

5. 5

   Now add half of the grated cheddar cheese, all the mozzarella, the cream cheese and the mustard and continue to stir on a medium heat until the cheese has melted and the sauce has thickened.

6. 6

   Taste for seasoning and add salt and plenty of ground black pepper.

7. 7

   --- Assemble the macaroni cheese ---

8. 8

   Preheat the oven to 200°Cc / 400°F

9. 9

   Transfer the pasta to a large baking dish. Slice the sausages onto ¼-inch rounds and mix them into the pasta.

10. 10

    Pour the sauce over the sausages and pasta, and mix well to coat all the pasta in the sauce.

11. 11

    Slice the tomato and arrange it on top of the pasta. Season the tomato with salt and black pepper.

12. 12

    Sprinkle with the remaining cheddar cheese.

13. 13

    Bake the macaroni cheese in the preheated oven for 20 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly. If you want to brown the cheese, pop it under a hot grill for 2 to 3 minutes, but keep your eye on it. It will burn easily.