Lets face it-- since the "blue box" people removed the artificial ingredients from our beloved childhood staple, it has not been the same. That artificial cheesy flavor combined with a not-found-in-nature vivid yellow color that resembled a Nuclear reactor by-product was comfort in a box. Throw in a can of pre-made chili and it was college flashback time. With nostalgia ruined, it was time to make some adult mac and cheese.

This recipe was an amalgamation of several others edited fit ingredients available in the pantry. Result was excellent and the portion size good as the primary entree for two adults. A hearty cheddar cheese works very well for the core sauce, but the topping layer can be customized. A pre-shredded pepper jack and cheddar blend added some extra spice which we liked.

A diligent reader might notice the recipe cooks four slices of bacon but only two go directly into the mac and cheese. Bacon works great for pushing that tasty bite onto your fork or as a quick snack while waiting for the oven to do its magic.