Homemade Macaroni and Cheese (+ Suprise!)

Don't get too excited - the surprise is just tomatoes.  I had some that needed to be eaten soon, and I thought the colour would make for a good picture, and the tanginess would make it extra good!  The recipe is adapted from allrecipes.com. 

Ingredients

• 1 package macaroni (I used Barilla - my fav!)
• 1/4 cup butter
• 2 cups milk
• 1 package cream cheese (Try not to use the "light/lite" kind - it tastes a bit funny!)
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1 pkg cherry tomatoes, cut in half
• 1 cup dry bread crumbs
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (I used more!)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Cook macaroni for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
3. In a large saucepan (you can use the one you made the pasta in) over medium heat, melt butter. Mix in milk, cream cheese, pepper, and Dijon mustard. Continue cooking until sauce is thickened. Add cooked macaroni, tomatoes, and Cheddar cheese.
4. Pour into large casserole dish. Sprinkle breadcrumbs and parsley on top. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown and hot!