Baked Penne with Cheddar and Leeks Recipe

How to make it

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• Lightly butter a 15x10x2" baking dish.
• Melt butter in heavy saucepan over medium heat.
• Add leeks and stir to coat.
• Cover pan and cook until leeks are tender, stirring occasionally for about 12 minutes (do not brown leeks).
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Uncover pan and add flour. Stir for 2 minutes
• Add milk and bring to a simmer, stirring often.
• Add cheese, mustard and pepper sauce.
• Stir until cheese melts.
• Remove from heat and season to taste with salt.
• Whisk eggs in a medium bowl.
• Gradually whisk in 1 cup of cheese sauce.
• Stir egg mixture into cheese sauce in pan.
• Meanwhile cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water to al dente.
• Drain pasta and return to pot.
• Stir cheese sauce into pasta.
• Transfer pasta to prepared baking dish.
• ** Can be made to this point 2 hours ahead and sit at room temperature.
• Bake 25 to 30 minutes OR until sauce is bubbly and pasta edges golden.
• Let stand 15 minutes.
• Serve hot.