Bacon-Pear Mac N Cheese

Name: Bacon-Pear Mac N Cheese
Ingredients: -8 ounces dried elbow macaroni or other short tubular pasta, about 2 cups. (I used 2 cups each dry cavatappi and penne); -6 slices bacon; -1/2 cup chopped onion (1 medium); -2 cloves garlic, minced; -2 tablespoons all-purpose flour; -1 teaspoon dry mustard; -1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; -2 1/2 cups whole milk; -6 ounces smoked Gouda cheese, cubed and softened; -2 tablespoons snipped fresh oregano or 1 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed-I used fresh!; -2 tablespoons butter or margarine; -2 tablespoons packed brown sugar; -2 red and or green pears; thinly sliced; -2 tablespoons finely shredded Parmesan cheese

14 ingredients

7 steps

Ingredients

-8 ounces dried elbow macaroni or other short tubular pasta, about 2 cups. (I used 2 cups each dry cavatappi and penne)
-6 slices bacon
-1/2 cup chopped onion (1 medium)
-2 cloves garlic, minced
-2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
-1 teaspoon dry mustard
-1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
-2 1/2 cups whole milk
-6 ounces smoked Gouda cheese, cubed and softened
-2 tablespoons snipped fresh oregano or 1 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed-I used fresh!
-2 tablespoons butter or margarine
-2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
-2 red and or green pears; thinly sliced
-2 tablespoons finely shredded Parmesan cheese

Directions

1

1. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. Return pasta to hot pan; cover to keep warm. Set aside.
2

2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp, turning once. Reserving 3 tablespoons drippings in skillet, drain bacon on paper towels. Crumble bacon and set aside.
3

3. Cook onion and garlic in drippings over medium heat for 30 seconds. Stir in flour, dry mustard and pepper. Add milk. Stir until thickened and bubbly; reduce heat. Add smoked Gouda and cream cheese, and cook and stir until almost melted.
4

4. Pour cheese sauce over the pasta; stir in oregano and all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon. Transfer mixture to a 2-quart rectangular baking dish; cover with foil.
5

Bake in a 350 oven for 25 minutes.
6

5. Meanwhile, melt butter in a clean, large skillet. Stir in brown sugar; add pears.
7

Cook turning occasionally, until pears are tender, about 6 to 8 minutes. Remove from heat. Remove pasta and cheese from oven. Remove foil from baking dish; stir about half of the sliced, cooked pears into the pasta. Arrange the remaining pear slices over the pasta; sprinkle with Parmesan and reserved bacon. Bake 5 minutes more, or until Parmesan has softened. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.