Gluten Free Macaroni and Cheese

Ingredients

• 8 oz quinoa macaroni (or other gluten free pasta)
• 1 cup gluten free bread crumbs
• 2 oz salted butter (plus about 1 oz extra for topping)
• 1 oz gluten free flour (I recommend rice flour or something without a strong taste - note, if you use regular non-gluten-free flour, double this to 2 oz.)
• 4 oz cheese (I prefer sharp cheddar, but vary it up!)
• 2 cups whole milk
• (optional) 2 pre-cooked sausages/hot dogs (gluten free)
• 1 tsp mustard powder
• salt and pepper

Instructions

Boil 8 oz. macaroni according to instructions on the box till almost cooked, but still on the firm side. Drain these well, and place in a medium size oven-safe serving dish.

While the macaroni is boiling:

• Grate 4 oz cheese and set aside.
• Measure 2 cups milk and set aside.
• Prepare breadcrumbs by grating or tearing apart bread. Melt about 1 oz salted butter and mix with 1 cup of breadcrumbs. Set aside in a bowl. (You can make extra breadcrumbs and freeze them for future use.)
• Optional: cut cooked sausages into slices. Sprinkle over the drained pasta in the serving dish.

Preheat the oven to 375 F (190 C).

In a saucepan over medium heat, melt 2 oz butter and stir in the gluten free flour. Mix well until the mixture looks mealy, but is not yet turning brown. This is called a "roux" (equal parts flour and butter).

Add the milk you set aside previously, and stir vigorously with a whisk until the sauce thickens - it will suddenly turn from liquid, to thick sauce. Allow the sauce to simmer gently for about 5 minutes to thicken. If you notice any lumps, whisk the sauce again vigorously until they are gone.

Add a teaspoon of mustard powder and any other flavorings at this point if you wish, such as spices (if you add anything liquid, you may need to simmer for a bit longer to thicken again). Remove from heat, and add the cheese that you set aside previously. Stir only long enough to melt it. Add salt and pepper to your preference.

When the sauce tastes good, pour it over the pasta in the serving dish. Mix in, and smooth the top with a spatula or spoon, then sprinkle the buttery breadcrumbs over top. Put the dish in the oven for about 10 minutes, until the breadcrumbs are starting to brown slightly.

Serve hot!

The cheese sauce is also delicious over vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, etc.) instead of over pasta.