Blue Cheese and Pear Mac and Cheese

Ingredients

• Salt (1/2 teaspoon, or to taste)
• Black pepper (1/2 teaspoon, or to taste)
• Bread crumbs (1/2 cup)
• Pears (2, ripe, peeled and diced)
• Unsalted butter (4 tablespoons)
• All-purpose flour (3 tablespoons)
• Milk (2 cups)
• Blue cheese (1 cup, crumbled)
• Macaroni (2 cups, uncooked)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
2. Cook the macaroni in a large pot of boiling salted water, according to the package instructions, until al dente. Drain well and set aside.
3. In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the flour to make a roux, cooking for about 1-2 minutes, until the mixture is golden and foamy.
4. Gradually whisk in the milk, ensuring it's fully incorporated into the roux. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens, about 5-7 minutes.
5. Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the crumbled blue cheese, whisking until the cheese has completely melted into the sauce.
6. Stir the cooked macaroni and diced pears into the cheese sauce, ensuring everything is evenly coated. Season with salt and pepper.
7. Pour the macaroni mixture into a greased baking dish. Sprinkle the top evenly with bread crumbs.
8. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the sauce is bubbling. Let it rest for a few minutes before serving.