Best Mac And Cheese My Way Recipes

SIMPLE MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, 8 minutes. Drain.
• Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat; stir in flour, salt, and pepper until smooth, about 5 minutes. Slowly pour milk into butter-flour mixture while continuously stirring until mixture is smooth and bubbling, about 5 minutes. Add Cheddar cheese to milk mixture and stir until cheese is melted, 2 to 4 minutes.
• Fold macaroni into cheese sauce until coated.

HOMEMADE MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Cook macaroni according to the package directions. Drain.
• In a saucepan, melt butter or margarine over medium heat. Stir in enough flour to make a roux. Add milk to roux slowly, stirring constantly. Stir in cheeses, and cook over low heat until cheese is melted and the sauce is a little thick. Put macaroni in large casserole dish, and pour sauce over macaroni. Stir well.
• Melt butter or margarine in a skillet over medium heat. Add breadcrumbs and brown. Spread over the macaroni and cheese to cover. Sprinkle with a little paprika.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 minutes. Serve.

MAC AND CHEESE - MY WAY

Steps:

• Cook macaroni in boiling salted water until tender, but firm. Drain well. Preheat the broiler. Melt the butter in a saucepan. Remove and toss 1 tablespoon of the butter with the bread crumbs. Reserve. Add the flour to the remaining butter, whisking for 2 minutes. Slowly whisk in the milk and broth. Bring to a boil, whisking constantly. Add green onions. Whisk 2 minutes longer. Remove from heat or keep on very, very low
• heat. Add half of the cheese, stirring until smooth. Add remaining cheese, stirring until melted and smooth. Add the macaroni to the sauce and stir well. Spoon into a 2-quart shallow baking dish. Sprinkle with the buttered crumbs. Broil until the crumbs brown, about 2 minutes. Serve immediately. (If you wish, the mixture can be prepared before broiling up to several hours ahead and refrigerated. You may need to stir in a little more milk or broth if it thickens to much. Then bake, covered, for 15 minutes at 375 degrees. Uncover, and bake about I0 minutes more until crumbs are browned and casserole is hot and bubbly.)
• IDEAS FOR LIVENING UP BOXED MAC AND CHEESE
• Stir in chopped pasta-ready canned tomatoes and chopped fresh basil (Italian)
• Stir in a can of chopped green chiles and a teaspoon of chili powder (Mexican)
• Stir in a can of drained water-packed tuna fish, a small can of olives, and some chopped fresh herb such as parsley, basil, thyme, tarragon, sage, or chives
• Stir in leftover bits of cooked vegies (broccoli or corn) or deli meats (ham or smoked turkey or salami