The Joy Of Mac And Cheese Recipes

THE JOY OF MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• In microwave bowl melt butter, whisk in flour and once it is smooth gradually whisk in milk a bit at a time until mixture is smooth again. Microwave on high, stirring until smooth every minute, until mixture thickens into a white sauce, about 4-5 minutes in all.
• Stir in desired seasonings and 2/3rds of cheese until melted. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir in macaroni.
• Pour 1/2 of the macaroni mixture into a greased 1 1/2 quart baking dish. I like to use a 9 x 11 to spread it out thin. Sprinkle with half the remaining cheese. Top with the other half of the macaroni and the rest of the cheese. It's ok to grate more cheese if you want and/or mix in other cheeses like mozzarella. I do!
• Melt butter in a pan and toss in fresh bread crumbs until browned for topping OR sprinkle macaroni with packaged bread crumbs and dot with butter.
• Bake at 350 for 30 mins, until breadcrumbs are lightly browned. Since I spread it out thin and the ingredients are already warm it usually doesn't take the full 30 mins to cook. You don't want to dry it out ether. Let rest for about 5 mins before serving.

STOVE TOP MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Cook macaroni in a large pot of boiling salted water for recommended cooking time on box.
• Drain and return to pot and add butter.
• Stir macaroni and butter until well blended.
• Add the rest of the ingredients (evaporated milk through pepper) and stir well.
• Set pot over very low heat and cook macaroni mixture.
• Stir constantly until sauce is smooth and macaroni is steaming, 5-10 minutes. The sauce should thicken, if not, slightly raise the heat and cook another 5 minutes.
• DO NOT OVERHEAT OR SAUCE WILL CURDLE.
• If you have family members who like baked macaroni, you can put this into a baking dish and top with breadcrumbs, and then cook in a 350 degree over for 5-10 minutes. Macaroni will still be creamy, and there will be a nice crunchy topping.

GRANDMA JOY'S EASY AFFORDABLE MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Cook macaroni, drain well. Combine cottage cheese, sour cream, egg (slightly beaten), salt and pepper; add shredded cheese. Mix well. Stir in the cooked macaroni while still warm. Turn 1/2 the mixture into well buttered pan or baking dish. Sprinkle chilies on mixture and top with remaining mixture. Dot with butter and sprinkle with paprika. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes or until slightly brown and bubbly. Do not overcook.

VEGETARIAN CAULIFLOWER MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375•.
• Cook Pasta as per directions on the package. While pasta is cooking, chop cauliflower into ¼ - ½" pieces, place in a steamer and steam until just tender. Set aside. Sauté the onion in olive oil until translucent. Set those with the cauliflower.
• Drain the pasta and put into a large baking dish. Add the cauliflower and onions, mix all of it together.
• To make sauce, melt butter in a sauce pan on low heat. Add flour to melted butter. Warm the milk in the microwave for about 1 minute, then add it to the flour and butter mixture. Turn heat for saucepan to medium high and stir constantly until sauce thickens. Should be about 4-5 minutes. When sauce is thick, turn heat down to very low and add cheese, garlic powder, mustard powder, salt and chili powder (if using). Stir until it is smooth.
• Pour the sauce over the pasta, cauliflower and onion. Mix together until well blended. Sprinkle bread crumbs over the top, then sprinkle the parmesan over that.
• Place in oven and bake for 20 minutes.

BAKED MACARONI ALA THE JOY OF COOKING

Steps:

• Cook macaroni according to pkg directions; drain.
• Place half macaroni in 3-4 qt casserole or 9x13" pan; sprinkle w/ half grated cheddar.
• Top with remaining macaroni; sprinkle w/ remaining cheese.
• Mix remaining ingredients in small bowl til well blended; pour over macaroni and cheese.
• Sprinkle w/ stuffing mix (or bread crumbs of your choice); dot w/ butter; sprinkle w/ remaining cheddar.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes.