I need your absolute best, T&T Mac and cheese recipe please!

We are serving 18 people, and my only criteria is that it be very creamy and not "stringy" at all. We are serving a spiral sliced ham, as well, and lots of sides.

Really appreciate your input!

Robin

KFrame's Mac and Cheese (an Alton Brown recipe)

1/2 pound elbow macaroni
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon of cayanne pepper
1 tablespoon powdered mustard ( I use a 1/2 TBSP)
3 cups milk
1/2 cup yellow onion, finely diced
3 or 4 cloves of garlic, smashed or diced fine
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 large egg, light beaten
12 ounces sharp cheddar, shredded
6 to 8 strips of bacon, fried crisp, drained, and crumbled
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Fresh black pepper
Topping:
3 tablespoons butter
1 cup panko bread crumbs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large pot of boiling, salted water cook the pasta to al dente.

While the pasta is cooking, in a separate pot, melt the butter and let it foam out.

Add the onion and garlic with a pinch of kosher salt and lightly sautee until they start to turn carmel colored and soft.

Whisk in the flour and mustard and keep it moving for about five minutes. Make sure it's free of lumps. Stir in the milk, onion, bay leaf, cayanne pepper, and paprika.

Simmer for ten minutes and remove the bay leaf.

Temper in the egg. Stir in 3/4 of the cheese and the bacon.

Season with salt and pepper.

Fold the macaroni into the mix and pour into a 2-quart casserole dish. Top with remaining cheese.

Melt the butter in a saute pan and toss the bread crumbs to coat. Top the macaroni with the bread crumbs. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and rest for five minutes before serving.