Monday, February 11, 2008

Baked Macaroni and Cheese

I don't know about everyone else, but my kids love mac and cheese! I am not a fan of the boxed kind (too many memories of the broke college student days), so I decided to try out a homemade bake version.

Bake Macaroni and Cheese

8 oz Macaroni (elbow is easiest, but you can be creative)
1/4 Cup margerine or butter
3 Tablespoons of Flour
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
2 Cups milk (for even creamier mac and cheese you can use evaporated milk)
2 Cups shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 Cup grated parmesean cheese
Topping:
1/2 Cup bread crumbs
1/4 Cup grated Parmesean cheese
1 1/2 Tablespoons melted butter

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Boil macaroni for about 10 minutes.
  3. Melt margerine in sauce pan.
  4. Add salt, pepper and flour, mixing until smooth.
  5. Add milk slowly, stirring until mixture reaches smooth consistency.
  6. Cook over medium heat until it thickens and begins to boil.
  7. Lower heat and add cheddar cheese and 1/4 cup of parmesean, stirring until smooth and all cheese is melted.
  8. Drain macaroni (do not rinse).
  9. Place macaroni in 3 quart baking dish and pour cheese mixture over it.
  10. Stir until macaroni is well coated.
  11. Mix bread crumbs, 1/4 cup parmesean, and melted butter until mixture is crumbly.
  12. Sprinkle crumb mixture over macaroni.
  13. Place dish in oven.
  14. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.

**Choose your cheese: the sharper the cheddar, the stronger the taste. You can also go for a white cheddar, for a different look.

**You can add some onion or leeks for a more "grown up" taste.

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