Baked Mushroom Mac 'n' Cheese

Recipe courtesy of the Mushroom Council.

Recipe Ingredients:

4 ounces (about 2 cups) elbow macaroni, uncooked
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound white button mushrooms, sliced
4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups milk
1 cup shredded mild cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup fresh bread crumbs

Cooking Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Cook pasta according to package directions.
3. While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Add a single layer of mushrooms and cook, without stirring, for about 5 minutes or until mushrooms become red-brown on one side. Flip mushrooms and cook about 5 minutes more, until other side is same color.
4. Melt butter in a large saucepan and stir in flour. Cook for a minutes or two to slightly toast flour. Stir in salt and whisk in milk. Bring to a low boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally to slightly thicken sauce, for about five minutes.
5. Remove from heat, whisk in cheeses and stir to melt. Stir in mushrooms and pasta and transfer to greased 3-quart baking dish.
   
6. Sprinkle with bread crumbs.
7. Place dish on baking sheet and bake until cheese bubbles around the edges, about 30 minutes Remove from oven and let rest for about five minutes.
8. Serve warm.

Makes 4 servings.

Nutritional Information Per Serving (1/4 of recipe): Calories: 423; Total Fat: 26g; Cholesterol: 208mg; Total Carbs: 21g; Protein: 23g; Sodium: 842mg.

Recipe and photograph courtesy of the Mushroom Council.