Ultimate Mac and Cheese

Instructions

• 1Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat and season well with salt. Add the pasta and cook for 1 minute less than the packet instructions. Drain and set aside. Meanwhile, continue to the next step.
• 2Melt 1 oz of the butter and add to the crumbs, stir to coat and set aside.
• 3Grease a 8-inch square baking dish with softened butter.
• 4To make the bechamel sauce, melt the remaining 1 oz butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk constantly for 2 minutes, or until it bubbles. Gradually add the milk whisking constantly to prevent lumps. Add the thyme and reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, whisking for 5 minutes, or until the sauce boils and thickens slightly.
• 5Remove the pan from the heat. Add the salt, mustard powder, pepper and both cheeses. Whisk until the cheese has melted and the sauce is smooth. Remove and discard the thyme sprigs.
  Tip: If the cheese is not fully melted, return the pan to low heat and whisk until just melted, do not overheat as the cheese will split and become grainy.
• 6Insert the wire rack into position 6. Select Phase Cook for P1 and set the oven to Bake, Convection, 400°F, for 8 minutes, enable Rotate Remind. Press Start for P2, set the oven to Grill, High, for 1 minute and press Start to preheat. Meanwhile, continue to the next step.
• 7Add the pasta to the cheese sauce and stir until well combined.
• 8Spread the mixture into the prepared dish and sprinkle with the crumbs.
• 9Once preheated, place the dish in the oven and bake for 8 minutes. When the Rotate Remind signals rotate the dish. At the end of P1 the oven will switch to grill for 1 minute.
• 10The crumb topping should be golden brown. If not, grill it a little longer. When it’s ready, remove from the oven and stand for 10 minutes.
• 11Serve sprinkled with chives.