Macaroni and Cheese with Caramelized Onions

Don't let the name keep you from trying it - this is not your typical mac and cheese.

Menu: Macaroni and Cheese with Caramelized Onions and Toss Green Salad with grapes, apples, and Poppyseed dressing

Macaroni and Cheese with Caramelized Onions:

4 strips bacon

1 large onion, halves and thinly sliced

2 cups regular or multigrain elbow macaroni

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

2 ounces blue cheese

1 cup half and half or light cream

fresh back pepper

In a large skillet cook bacon over medium heat until crisp, turning once. Drain bacon paper towel and crumble. Reserve bacon grease in skillet. Cook onion in reserved bacon grease for 5-8 minutes or until onion is tender and golden brown. Set aside. In a large saucepan cook macaroni according to package directions. Drain and return to saucepan. Stir in bacon, onions, 1 1/2 cups mozzarella, blue cheese, half and half, and pepper. Put into a 1 1/2 quart casserole dish. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Stir gently and then top with the rest of mozzarella cheese. Bake for 10 minutes more. Then stand for 10 minutes.

Rating: Scott really liked this. We thought there was too much blue cheese, so in this recipe and the one I am keeping in my book I have reduced it to 2 ounces (it was 4 ounces before). The kids weren't as enthusiastic about it - maybe if I put orange dye in it next time then maybe they will like it.