Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Why I Love This Recipe
Recipe By: Alton Brown
Source:
"Good Eats"
Ingredients You'll Need
1/2 pound elbow macaroni
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
1 tablespoon powdered mustard
3 cups milk
1/2 yellow onion -- finely diced
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 large egg
12 ounces sharp cheddar cheese -- shredded
1 teaspoon kosher salt
freshly ground pepper
3 tablespoons butter
1 cup panko bread crumbs
Directions
1 cup panko bread crumbs
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large pot of boiling, salted water cook the pasta to al dente.
While the pasta is cooking, in a separate pot, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour and mustard and keep it moving for about 5 minutes. Make sure it's free of lumps. Stir in the milk, onion, bay leaf, and paprika. Simmer for 10 minutes and remove the bay leaf.
Temper in the egg. Stir in 3/4 of the cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Fold the macaroni into the mix and pour into a 2 quart casserole dish. Top with remaining cheese.
Melt the butter in a saute pan and toss the bread crumbs to coat. Top the macaroni with the bread crumbs. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Recipe By: Alton Brown
Source:
"Good Eats"