Macaroni Cheese

Method

• step 1

  Preheat the grill to 200°C. Make sure you have a dish large enough for the amount of macaroni.

• step 2

  Start by bringing a pan of water to the boil, then add the macaroni, together with some salt and a few drops of oil. Bring back to the boil and cook for a further ten minutes.

• step 3

  While that's happening, in a separate pan, melt the butter and stir in the flour. Then add the milk bit by bit, stirring until you have a nice, smooth sauce. Now leave it to cool gently for 7 minutes, then stir in the grated Cheddar, a pinch of salt, a grind of pepper and a small pinch of nutmeg. Finally, add the cream.

• step 4

  Once the macaroni is ready return it to a large saucepan, add the sauce and cook over a medium heat until hot. Then transfer the pasta mixture to the dish, cover with the grated Parmesan and sprinkle on the cayenne. Place the dish under the grill for a few minutes until nicely browned on top.