Cookin’ Time! Mac & Cheese

Hey you! Hungry? Come try this mac and cheese recipe. The ultimate comfort food.

Let’s take it easy this week and do a simple from scratch Mac and Cheese. No, really, it is super simple. This is a variation on “President Truman’s Meatless Tuesday” that my kids love. The recipe I have (I cut it out of a magazine) calls for it to be baked, but my version works perfectly as a last minute stove-top type dish. I usually pair it with a vegetarian chili (ok, not always, but usually) and it tastes delish spooned over top of a portion of chili.

I was busy copying tried and true recipes over to my handy dandy recipe book this morning and I realized how awesome it would be to share them with you! Maybe I’ll even remember to do it, I don’t know, more than once ;) I’m going to shoot for once a week, probably on Tuesdays just because today is Tuesday and if I add it and a reminder to my handy dandy calendar, it will bean me upside the head and remind me to do it. Thanks, Steve, for letting me use Handy Dandy. Come on, you’re a mom, you know who I am talking about. Anyways, Mac and Cheese!

Print Recipe

Mac & Cheese

Servings: 4

Author: Jennifer Johnpoll

Ingredients

2 cups uncooked macaroni
4 Tbsp. butter
2 Tbsp. minced onions I usually omit this, my kids don't like it. I think it's divine
4 Tbsp. all purpose flour
1 tsp. salt I usually omit this
3/4 tsp. dry mustard
1/4 tsp. paprika
2 Cups milk
3 Cups shredded cheddar divided (I like to mix mild & sharp, and maybe toss in a little CoJack too)

Instructions

Boil 6 cups of water and cook macaroni until al dente. Drain.
In a large saucepan, melt butter.
Add onion and cook, stirring constantly until tender.
Add flour, salt, dry mustard and paprika. Mix well.
Add milk and stir for five minutes or until thickened. I suggest drizzling the milk in slowly while stirring.
Add shredded cheese and stir until melted.
Stir in macaroni and serve.
For a little added protein add a can or two of drained tuna or chicken. Voila! Quick and easy mac & cheese without all the sodium and food coloring of that boxed stuff. Need an even quicker variety? Cook up your macaroni, drain and return to pot. Add about 1/4 c milk and 5 or 6 slices of American cheese (or to taste). Stir together and serve. If your cheese is too thick, add a little more milk. If it's too runny, add a little more cheese.

About Jennifer 39 Articles

Jenn has been described as “the archetype of the next generation matriarch” – whatever that means. She resides in not-so-sunny south Florida. With her children grown, she has dogs now and dreams about living in a tiny house visiting every North American Punky. Jenn runs the technical aspect of Punky Moms. Whenever there is a tech problem, she fixes it. She is the great and powerful Oz.