Best Cheryls Comforting Macaroni And Cheese Recipes

OLD-FASHIONED MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Cook macaroni in boiling water until almost tender; drain. Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven, melt butter. Stir in the flour, salt, mustard, pepper and pepper sauce until smooth. Cook for 1 minute or until bubbly. Stir in the macaroni, milk and 4 cups cheese. , Transfer to an ungreased 13x9-in. baking dish. Cover and bake at 350° for 45-50 minutes or until bubbly. Uncover; sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

THE BEST BAKED MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until just slightly softened, about 6 minutes. Reserve 1 cup pasta cooking water, then drain the pasta and rinse under cold water.
• Meanwhile, remove the crusts from the bread and cut into 1-inch cubes. Pulse in the food processor until the bread breaks into bean-sized pieces.
• Melt 3 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the breadcrumbs and cook, stirring, until toasted, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and season with salt and pepper.
• Melt 4 tablespoons of the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour, mustard powder and cayenne. Cook, whisking constantly, until smooth and slightly golden, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the milk and cook, whisking occasionally, until the sauce begins to boil and thicken, about 7 minutes, then remove from heat. Stir in the fontina, Gruyere and all but 1 1/2 cups of the Cheddar until fully melted. Stir in the pasta, adding the reserved pasta water as needed to make a creamy sauce. Season with salt and pepper.
• Melt the remaining 1 tablespoon butter in a small bowl in the microwave. Brush a 9-by-13-inch glass or ceramic baking dish with the melted butter. Spread the pasta mixture in the prepared dish. Sprinkle the remaining Cheddar evenly over the pasta, then scatter the toasted breadcrumbs on top. Bake until heated through and just bubbling, about 25 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.

CHERYL'S COMFORTING MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Cook elbow macaroni according to package directions.
• Drain; rinse with cold water; drain again.
• In a 12 inch skillet over medium-high heat, cook sausages until well browned on all sides and cooked through, turning frequently, about 15 minutes.
• Remove sausages to cutting board.
• In drippings remaining in the skillet over medium heat, cook pepper and onion until tender, about 8 - 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Remove to a large bowl.
• When sausages are cool enough to handle, cut them into 1/2-inch-thick slices; add to bowl with vegetables.
• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Grease 12x8-inch baking dish.
• In 2-quart saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter.
• Stir in the flour; cook 1 minute.
• Whisk in the milk gradually.
• Heat to boiling, stirring frequently.
• Remove from heat.
• Stir in the cheeses, Tabasco, garlic and salt until cheese melts.
• Stir frequently.
• In a large bowl combine the sausage, macaroni, and cheese sauce.
• Spoon into prepared baking dish.
• Bake for 20 - 25 minutes until mixture is hot and bubbly.