MACARONI AND CHEESE RECIPE BEST RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Cook and drain macaroni according to package directions; set aside.
• In a large saucepan melt butter.
• Add flour mixed with salt and pepper, using a whisk to stir until well blended.
• Pour milk and cream in gradually; stirring constantly.
• Bring to boiling point and boil 2 minutes (stirring constantly).
• Reduce heat and cook (stirring constantly) 10 minutes.
• Add shredded cheddar little by little and simmer an additional 5 minutes, or until cheese melts.
• Turn off flame.
• Add macaroni to the saucepan and toss to coat with the cheese sauce.
• Transfer macaroni to a buttered baking dish.
• Sprinkle with breadcrumbs.
• Bake 20 minutes until the top is golden brown.
• (You can also freeze this recipe in zip-lock bags for later use - once you have mixed the macaroni along with the cheese sauce allow to cool to room temperature before adding to your freezer - I generally pull it out the night before and allow macaroni and cheese to reach room temperature; I then add the macaroni and cheese to a buttered baking dish, sprinkle with bread crumbs and then bake for 20 to 30 minutes, until golden brown on top and bubbling.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350; F. Set a large pot of water on high heat.
• Meanwhile, begin the sauce by making a roux: in a medium saucepan melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour. Continue to stir this roux over medium heat for two to three minutes.
• The roux should be cooked and free of the flour flavor but still light in color.
• Gradually add milk, whisking briskly to maintain a smooth sauce.
• Cook the sauce for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to avoid scorching.
• When sauce thickens, add cheeses, salt and spices to the sauce, and stir until all the cheese has melted. I make my sauces in the microwave; turns out great and never scorches.
• Somewhere during this sauce-cooking process, your pasta water has started boiling. The original is made with Penne noodles. Add a generous amount of salt to the water and cook the pasta until almost but not quite al dente (two minutes before the package directions indicate). You want barely undercooked pasta so that it can finish in the oven later. Halt the cooking by draining the pasta and rinsing with cold water. Return pasta to pot.
• Pour sauce over pasta and stir until completely incorporated. The combination should be fairly saucy, almost soupy.
• Dish the mixture into a buttered 9-13 pan and sprinkle with extra grated cheeses and cayenne. Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes, until you have beautiful, browned edges. Those edges will be a welcome and flavorful addition to each serving.
• Let the dish sit for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. I divided this in 2 containers and froze one.