No food blog would be complete without a recipe for macaroni and cheese. It is considered one of the ultimate comfort foods. For me, it brings back childhood memories where I want to go curl up with a blanket and a good book. This is a basic recipe where changes are not necessary to amaze your family. If you want to get creative you can change the cheeses and make some additions but keep it simple or you change it into different type of casserole.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

4 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
1/4 cup butter
4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons mustard powder
nutmeg to taste
2 1/4 cups milk
16 ounces cheese (sharp cheddar, monterrey jack and gruyere)
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup seasoned dry bread crumbs
1/8 cup parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and butter a 2 quart casserole dish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bring a saucepan of lightly salted water to a boil

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add macaroni

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cook until not quite done (approx 6 minutes)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Drain

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In a saucepan melt the butter over medium heat for roux

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stir in the flour

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stir constantly until you achieve what looks like wet sand (you do not want this brown)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You will need 2 cups of milk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Slowly stir in the milk and work out any lumps

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add an egg by tempering first and stir

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add the cheese and stir until melted

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add mustard powder, nutmeg, salt and pepper. I like to use a spatula to work the sauce

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mix until the sauce is thick and smooth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stir the noodles into the cheese sauce and transfer to a prepared casserole dish

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sprinkle bread crumbs and parmesan cheese over the top or you can use more grated cheese. Cover the dish and bake for 20 – 25 minutes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is comfort food!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are you hungry yet??