Southern Style Macaroni and Cheese

The recipe for this wonderful regional take on mac and cheese is an adaptation of one in The Gift of Southern Cooking (Knopf, 2003) by Edna Lewis, a Southern culinary legend, and Scott Peacock, the former chef of Atlanta's Watershed restaurant. Two ingredients set this macaroni and cheese apart from the pack: grated onion and Worcestershire sauce. It has great flavor and is really simple to make. A perfect casserole to feed a large group with not too much trouble.

Southern Style Macaroni and Cheese

SERVES 8 – 10

Ingredients:

• 8 oz. hollow pasta, preferably elbow macaroni
• 1 1⁄2    tsp. kosher salt, plus more to taste
• Butter, for greasing
• 2 tbsp. plus 1 tsp. flour
• 7 oz. extra-sharp cheddar, cut into 1⁄2" cubes (about 1 1⁄2 cups), plus 6 oz. grated (about 2 cups)
• 1 1⁄2    tsp. dry mustard
• 1⁄4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
• 1⁄4 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
• 2⁄3 cup sour cream
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1⁄8 tsp. cayenne pepper
• 1 1⁄2 cups half-and-half
• 1 1⁄2 cups heavy cream
• 1 tsp. Worcestershire
• 1⁄3 cup grated onion

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350°. Bring a 4-qt. saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until cooked halfway through, about 3 minutes. Drain pasta and transfer to a greased 9" x 13" baking dish. Stir in the cubed cheddar cheese and set aside.

2. Combine 1 1⁄2 tsp. salt, flour, mustard, black pepper, nutmeg, and cayenne in a large mixing bowl. Add the sour cream and the eggs and whisk until smooth. Whisk in the half-and-half, heavy cream, onions, and Worcestershire. Pour egg mixture over the reserved pasta mixture and stir to combine. Sprinkle the grated cheese evenly over the surface. Bake until the pasta mixture is set around the edges but still a bit loose in the center, about 30 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

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