Apple Mac and Cheese with Leeks and Bacon

Last day of the week? It screams for mac and cheese! A cheesy and bacon-y concoction that soothes the heart and sets in the weekend. I adore mixing flavors that people raise their eyebrows at and have it actually work! Some experiments do fail, but this was not one of them. It was DELICIOUS and the flavors complimented each other instead of overwhelming each other when mixed together.

 Ingredients:

• 2 cups frozen leeks
• 1 apple diced to small bits
• 6 pieces of bacon cut into 1/2 inch pieces 
• 1/2 yellow onion diced
• 12 oz small shell pasta
• 2 cups cheddar cheese shredded
• 3 cups milk
• 1/4 cup flour
• 4 tbsp butter
• Panko bread crumbs
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a sauce pan cook your pasta. 
3. While pasta cooks fry your bacon and onion up in a frying pan, then place onto paper towel to cool. 
4. In the bacon fat, fry up your bits of apple until tender and golden. Set off to side.
5. Thaw your leeks and and place in a coriander. Drain your pasta over the top of leeks.
6. In the same pan you cooked your pasta, melt your butter. Then add your flour, and whisk together. Slowly whisk the milk into the flour mixture.
7. Add your cheese to the milk and stir until melted. 
8. In a large 9x16 baking pan put your leek and pasta mix and your bacon, onions and apples. Mix well.
9. Pour your cheese over your pasta and mix. Add a little more shredded cheese on top and a helping handful of Panko for a little crunchy top.
10. Bake for 30 minutes. 
11. Serve with salt and pepper and voila! Eat up!

*this serves 6

I thought while I was eating it that it would have been even better topped with some grated parmesan. But even without it... I ate way more than I should have, but I don't regret it. Happy eating everyone!