Ridiculously Good (and Easy) Mac and Cheese

My kids eat a lot of mac and cheese. I don't think you understand what I mean by a lot. It's embarrassing, really. They've eaten boxed mac and cheese in a dozen shapes and colors, frozen mac and cheese in any brand you can name. They've ordered mac and cheese off of countless menus - if it's on there, they've eaten it. If it's not on there, they've probably asked for it anyway in hopes that someone would take pity on them and whip up a batch. They've eaten it made with powdered cheese, squeezed cheese, shredded cheese, and even with some pureed butternut squash masquerading as cheese (not fans). We are a house of mac and cheese aficionados. So it is not lightly that I say that this recipe below is some good mac and cheese. It's creamy - not grainy, takes just one pot, and is made with actual real cheese - bonus! Plus, it's easy to dress up if you're in that sort of mood too (lobster? truffles? ham and peas?). I can't wait to hear what you think - you're going to love it!

Ridiculously Good and Ridiculously Easy Mac and Cheese

Creamy, gooey and delicious - comfort food
at it's best.

Ingredients:
1 lb. elbow macaroni pasta
1 1/2 cup milk
2 cups shredded cheese (1 cup sharp cheddar, 1/2 cup gruyere, 1/2 cup parmigiano regianno)
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 tbsp. butter
2 tbsp. flour
1 tsp. garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste
dash of cayenne pepper (at serving time for the grown-ups)

Directions:
1. Boil pasta in salted water for 6 minutes. Drain and hold in strainer while you prepare the sauce.
2. In same pot, melt butter and add flour over medium heat. Whisk until roux starts to brown very slightly. Add milk in steady stream while whisking furiously. Continue to whisk steadily for a few minutes until cream sauce thickens.
3. Temper egg with a few spoonfuls of cream sauce and then add egg to cream sauce. Continue to whisk.
4. Add shredded cheese to cream sauce and switch over to wooden spoon. Turn heat down to low and stir until all cheese has melted. Add garlic and salt and pepper to taste.
5. Once cheese has melted, add drained pasta to pot. Stir to cover pasta in all the gooey goodness. Serve and enjoy!