Mac N' Cheese with Pancetta

Jessie and I love Mac N' Cheese.  We are not Mac N' Cheese snobs, Kraft Mac N' Cheese is right there on the top of our list;  however, there is something special about Mac N' Cheese made from scratch.  Add pancetta to it and you've just stepped it up a notch!

Here is the homemade Mac N' Cheese with Pancetta Jessie and I made for a holiday party this month. 

MAC N' CHEESE WITH PANCETTA
Ingredients:
- 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter, divided
- 4 ounces thinly sliced pancetta
- 1 finely chopped medium yellow onion
- 3/4 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 (2) garlic clove, minced
- 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- 3 1/2 cups whole milk
- 2 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 8 ounce container mascarpone cheese
- 1 1/2 cup italian panko bread crumbs
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1 pound cooked macaroni noodles

Directions:
1. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in large deep skillet over medium-high heat. 
2. Add pancetta; saute until crisp, about 6 minutes. 
3. Add onion; saute until tender, about 5 minutes. 
4. Add crushed red pepper and garlic; stir 1 minute. 
5. Stir in 3 tablespoons butter; allow to melt, then add flour and stir 1 minute. 
6. Gradually whisk in 3 1/2 cups milk; simmer until thick enough to coat spoon thickly, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes.  Remove from heat. 
7. Whisk in cheeses. 
8. Whisk in more milk by 1/4 cupfuls until sauce is thick but pourable. 
9. Season with salt and pepper. 
10. Preheat oven to 350
11. Mix cheese sauce with cooked pasta in pasta pot; transfer mixture to prepared baking dish
12. Sprinkle bread crumbs evenly over
13. Bake Mac N' Cheese about 30 minutes (until golden brown on top)
14. Garnish with parsley

It really helped having the two of us cooking because one person has to constantly stir while the other is free to prepare the other ingredients.  It turned out awesome!  And the leftovers were just as good!