Ingredients

• 3 cups water
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 8 ounces seashell pasta
• 1 cup whole milk
• 4 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (optional)

Instructions

1. Pour water and salt into a medium pot and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Once the water is boiling, stir in the shell pasta, and return to a boil. Cook the pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the water has cooked down a bit, about 5 minutes.
2. Stir in the milk, and continue boiling for another 5 minutes. Add the Cheddar, Parmesan, pepper, and mustard; stir until the cheese melts and the sauce is thick and creamy. The starch from the pasta thickens the sauce as the pasta cooks.