It's National Cheese Lover's Day!

Today is National Cheese Lover's Day which means it's the perfect day to try all things cheesy. I love trying the various cheese-filled dishes at Disney World, so I thought I'd share a recipe for one of my favorites from last year's Taste of EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival that  you can make at home.

Gourmet Macaroni and Cheese with Boursin® Garlic & Fine Herbs Cheese topped with Herbed Panko

Serves 6-8

Toasted Panko: 

• 4 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup panko
• Coarse salt, to taste

Melt butter in small saucepan over medium heat. Add panko and stir until combined. Toast in pan for 3-5 minutes until golden brown. Remove from heat; salt to taste. Set aside.

Gourmet Macaroni and Cheese:

• 1 (16 oz) box cavatappi pasta or elbow macaroni
• 3/4 cup butter
• 3/4 cup flour
• 8 cups whole milk
• 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp mustard powder
• 1/2 pound white cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1/2 pound yellow cheddar cheese, shredded
• 3 (5.2 oz) Boursin Garlic & Fine Herbs cheese wheels, divided
• Coarse salt, to taste
• White pepper, to taste

Cook pasta in salted water according to package directions. Drain well. Set aside keeping warm.

Melt butter in 5-quart saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook, stirring constantly, until a blonde roux, approximately 4 minutes. Add milk, garlic powder, onion powder, and mustard powder and bring to boil. Reduce heat to simmer and stir constantly for 2-3 minutes, until thickened.

Fold in both shredded cheddar cheeses and two Boursin cheese wheels. Blend with immersion blender until cheese has melted and smooth. Season to taste with salt and white pepper.  

Add hot, cooked pasta with cheese sauce and mix until combined. Divide evenly into 6-8 bowls. Crumble remaining Boursin cheese wheel over each bowl and top with toasted panko. Serve immediately.