Ultimate Mac 'N Cheese with Bacon

Ingredients

Kosher salt
1 pound Gluten free elbow macaroni
4 cups milk
2 or 3 sprigs thyme
2 cloves garlic, smashed
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons all purpose, Gluten free flour
5 1/2 cups shredded sharp white Cheddar (I used Sharp Yellow Cheddar)
Freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup chopped flat leaf parsley
Salt and pepper to taste

Topping:
4 slices bacon, cut crosswise into thin strips
1 large onion, diced (I used 5 Green Onions including stems cut into coins)
2 garlic cloves, smashed
Leaves from 1/4 bunch fresh thyme
Salt and pepper to taste

Option: 5 large Basil leaves, minced

Instructions

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the macaroni and cook for 8 to 9 minutes, until al dente. Drain.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

In a small saucepan heat the milk with the thyme springs and 2 garlic cloves.

Melt the butter in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for about 1 minute, stirring constantly, to keep lumps from forming.

Strain the solids out of the milk and whisk it into the butter and flour mixture. Continue to whisk vigorously, and cook until the mixture is nice and smooth.

Stir in the 4 cups of the cheese and continue to cook and stir to melt the cheese.

Season with salt and pepper.

Add the cooked macaroni and the parsley and fold that all in to coat the macaroni with the cheese mixture.

Scrape into a 3 quart baking dish and sprinkle with the remaining 1 1/2 cups cheese. Bake for 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

While that bakes, heat a saute pan.

Add the bacon, render the fat and cook until crispy. Add onion, garlic and thyme leaves and cook for about 5 minutes to soften the onion. Season with salt and pepper.

To serve, scatter the bacon mixture over the Mac 'N Cheese.