Mushroom Macaroni And Cheese

Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 35 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 1 1/2 cups elbow macaroni (approx)
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 3 tablespoons butter or 3 tablespoons margarine, if you prefer
• 3 -4 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese, divided (or other , mix & match to taste)
• 3/4 cup dried mushroom, broken into manageable pieces
• 1 1/2 cups hot water
• 1/2 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
• 1 1/2 cups vegetable stock or 1 1/2 cups chicken stock
• dried mustard or worcestershire sauce, as desired
• salt & pepper

Recipe

• 1 soak dried mushrooms in hot water for about 15 minutes. once mushrooms are reconstituted squeeze out liquid & reserve both mushrooms & liquid.
• 2 melt butter over low heat and add flour. cook gently for 3 or 4 minutes. whisk in mushroom liquid and sufficient stock to form a medium thick sauce. add 1/2 the grated cheese & whisk until smooth.
• 3 cook macaroni in salted boiling water until just less than 'al dente'.
• 4 grease (or spray coat) an 8x8 baking dish. layer macaroni, cheese & mushroom sauce & remaining grated cheese in at least 2 layers. you may add more cheese or breadcrumbs, etc. on top.
• 5 bake at 350 approx 30 minutes, until sauce is bubbling and any topping is browned.