Planned Parenthood Federation of America

I'm sure your inbox is, like mine — filled with important updates and requests for your attention. And it's true, your support is incredibly important right now. But there's also room in our movement for love, warmth, and joy, so today I want to share my family's favorite mac & cheese recipe.

(And if you'd like to make a gift, that works too.)

There is no better comfort food than homemade mac 'n' cheese. It's cheesy, creamy, flavorful, and has bacon. In our house, cooking is not a science — we do it by the look and feel of the food, so take these measurements as suggestions. I always end up adding more cheese or milk at the end to get to the right consistency, so keep some extra warm milk and shredded cheese on hand!

Alexis McGill Johnson's Macaroni + Cheese Recipe. Click for ingredient list.

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375° F. Brush a casserole dish lightly with butter.
In a medium skillet or grill pan, fry bacon (8-10 min) until crispy. Drain on platter lined with paper towels. (Alternatively, bake on wire racks for 15-20 minutes.) Either way, save 2T grease!
Crumble bacon, when cooled.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente (6-8 minutes). Drain and rinse with cool water.
In a small saucepan, warm 3 cups milk.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix seasonings: salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, ground mustard powder, paprika, and chicken bouillon.
In another saucepan, make a classic bechamel sauce. Melt 2T of butter. Add 2T flour and cook for 2 minutes. Whisk in 2 cups of the milk until thick and smooth. Whisk in seasonings.
Whisk in cheese until creamy.
Pour sauce over the pasta. Toss in ¾ of the crumbled bacon. You may need to add the additional cup of milk, extra cheese, or the bonus bacon for the right consistency or taste, based on your personal preference.
In a small frying pan, heat 2T bacon grease or extra virgin olive oil (EVOO). Add panko and sauté until browned. Spoon over pasta.
Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes or until bubbling!

From my kitchen to yours,

Alexis McGill Johnson, President & CEO
Planned Parenthood Federation of America

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