“An Annual Meeting main dish and served at a Shelter Meal. Recipe courtesy of Martha Stewart, via Marti Priest.”
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, plus more for dish
6 slices good white bread, crusts removed, torn into 1/4 to 1/2 inch pieces
5-1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste
4-1/2 cups (18 ounces) grated sharp white Cheddar cheese*
2 cups (8 ounces) grated Gruyere*
1 pound elbow macaroni
Sour cream for garnish, optional

*For white cheddar and Gruyere, use equivalent amount of plain old grated cheddar

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Butter a 3 quart casserole dish; set aside. Place the bread in a medium bowl. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons butter. Pour butter into bowl with bread and toss. Set the bread crumbs aside.

In a medium saucepan set over medium heat, heat the milk. Melt remaining 6 tablespoons of butter in a medium pot over medium heat. When butter bubbles, add flour. Cook, stirring, 1 minute.

While whisking, slowly pour hot milk into flour/butter mixture. Continue cooking, whisking constantly, until the mixture bubbles and becomes thick.
Remove from the heat. Stir in salt, nutmeg, black pepper, cayenne pepper, 3 cups Cheddar cheese, and 1-1/2 cups Gruyere; (or all Cheddar); set cheese sauce aside.

Fill a large saucepan with water; bring to boil. Add macaroni; cook 2-3 minutes less than manufacturer’s directions, until the outside of pasta is cooked and the inside is underdone. (Different brands of macaroni cook at different rates; be sure to read directions.) Transfer macaroni to a colander, rinse under cold running water, and drain well. Stir macaroni into reserved cheese sauce.

Pour mixture into prepared dish. Sprinkle remaining 1-1/2 cups cheddar and 1/2 cup Gruyere (or all cheddar) and bread crumbs over the top. Bake until browned on top, 45-60 minutes. Transfer dish to a wire rack to cool for 5 minutes. Serve garnished with sour cream, if desired.

Serves 12.