Neighborhood Restaurant Mac n' Cheese

This is Will's favorite.  Even I order the kids mac n' cheese at the restaurant in town that we frequent.  I prefer the kid version because it is a smaller portion and because the beer in the adult version is not my favorite.  I guess if you do like it, add beer and cook for a bit before you add the milk and report back!

Neighborhood Restaurant Mac n' Cheese 

Ingredients

5-6 cups cooked penne pasta (3 cups dried pasta)

Creamy Garlic Cheese Sauce
1/4 cup unsalted butter 
2 garlic cloves, minced (I use garlic press)
1/4 cup flour 
1/4 teaspoon salt
dash black pepper
2 cups milk (whole or 2 %) 
1 1/2 cup shredded white cheddar cheese (or any mild cheese)- for smoother sauce, grate your own
1/2 cup shredded parmesan (the grated canister kind will make the sauce kind of gritty)

Bread Crumb Topping
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
salt & pepper to taste


Instructions

1. Boil the water, cook pasta until al dente according to package. Drain and set aside.
2. Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a medium/large skillet on medium. Stir in bread crumbs. Stir often until crumbs are light golden brown.  Add salt and pepper to taste. Set aside. 
3. In a medium saucepan, on medium-low heat, melt butter. Saute garlic for 1 minute. 
4. Then, add the flour and whisk together until smooth. 
5. Slowly add the milk, whisk to combine. Add salt and pepper. Cook and stir often until the mixture starts to thicken.  Remove from heat.
6. Add shredded cheese and stir until melted. Pour cheese sauce into cooked pasta and stir until coated. 
7. Serve topped with buttery, crunchy bread crumb topping. 

Recipe adapted from https://anitalianinmykitchen.com/macaroni-and-cheese/