Baked Jalapeno Mac & Cheese

Start heating a pot of salted water until boiling. While it heats, shred the cheddar cheese and chop the jalapeno. Add macaroni to the water once boiling until cooked through. Drain and set aside in a baking dish. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and let it warm while preparing the sauce.

In a separate sauce pot, begin melting 4 tbsp of butter over medium heat. Cook butter until the bubbles are small and it starts to brown, then add flour. Cook for 1 minute or until the flour smell disappears.

Gradually add milk to the butter/flour mixture in 1/4-1/3 cup increments, mixing constantly each time until homogenous. Keep adding milk in this fashion until all milk has been added and the mixture is smooth. It will start out as a wet dough, and will gradually turn to a thick sauce as you gradually add milk. After all milk has been added, cook for another minute until fully incorporated.

Add jalapenos, shredded cheddar, and cream cheese to the sauce. Continue to heat until cheddar and cream cheese have melted completely.

Mix cheese sauce into the dish with the macaroni, and mix thoroughly.

Prepare the topping by melting butter in a bowl -- we usually microwave it in 10-second increments until completely melted. Mix bread crumbs into the bowl until thoroughly mixed. Spread the topping over the macaroni and cheese and place in the oven for 20 minutes.

Remove the dish from the oven and top with diced tomatoes. Allow to cool and serve!