Kerrygold Mac & Cheese - Main Dishes

• 1 pound macaroni, penne or ziti, cooked tender and cooled
• 4 tablespoons Unsalted Kerrygold Butter
• 3/4 cup onion, small dice
• pinch of sugar
• 4 tablespoons all purpose flour
• 3 cups milk
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup Kerrygold Aged or Reserve Cheddar, grated
• 1 cup Kerrygold Swiss, grated
• 1 1/2 cups Kerrygold Dubliner, grated
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 cup breadcrumbs

Cook pasta according to package instructions and set asideto cool. In saucepan, melt Kerrygold Butter over mediumheat, add onion and lightly season with salt. Add a pinchof sugar and cook onion until translucent.

Add flour and cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly.Do not cook long enough to color. Whisk in milkand cream and incorporate totally. Bring mixture to asimmer; add bay leaf and cloves.

Reduce burner to low heat. Cook for 25 minutes, stirringoccasionally. Turn off heat and remove bay leaf. Whiskin 1 cup each of the Cheddar and Swiss Cheese, untilincorporated. Season with salt, pepper and nutmeg. Inlarge bowl, combine pasta and cheese sauce. Spoon into2 1/2-quart casserole dish. Combine remaining cheese. Topwith grated Dubliner, thyme or other chopped herb, anda small handful of breadcrumbs. Bake at 375°F for 8 to10 minutes.

Options: For an added touch of hearty goodness, add 1/4cup of cooked and chopped bacon or French ham or 1 1/2cups of wild mushrooms sautéed in olive oil with choppedshallots and garlic. Adding chopped parsley or anotherfavorite herb is also an easy and tasty option.