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OMT! Mac~n~Cheese

Who doesn’t love macaroni and cheese?  WHO?!  Not too many, that’s who.

If you’ve read here for a hot minute, you know I’m a recipe fiddler.  It’s a rare moment in the kitchen when I follow a recipe as written.  I think it’s because I know what we like and what works for us.  Or maybe it’s because I’m a culinary rebel!

This is my latest adaption of macaroni and cheese, with a secret ingredient:

OMT! Easy Mac n Cheese

OMT! MAC~n~CHEESE

Ingredients:

Pasta:

4 cups cooked macaroni noodles

Cheese Sauce Ingredients:

4 tbsp butter

4 tbsp flour

3 cups milk

1 cup grated Monterrey Jack

1/2 – 1 cup grated mild cheddar

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp smoked paprika (secret ingredient)

1/2 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp garlic powder

Instructions:

Pasta:

Boil those badboys until tender, 7-10 minutes, in enough water to cover noodles by two inches, while you’re making the cheese sauce.

Drain thoroughly.

Cheese Sauce:

Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Once butter is melted, whisk in the flour and continue to cook over medium heat.

Whisk for 5 minutes until light brown in color. (1)

Gradually whisk in the milk and bring to a boil, then turn heat down to medium low. (2)

Keep whisking until thickened. Watch carefully for burning on bottom of pan. If need be, turn to a lower heat.

Remove from heat and stir in grated cheese until melted. (tip: use the cheese of your little’s palate. if they no likey cheddar – don’t use it!)

Add seasonings to the cheese sauce.

Pour the cheese sauce over cooked macaroni. Stir to combine. (3)

Notes:

FOR NEWER COOKS:

(1) When making a roux (this is what melted butter and flour combo is called), I cook by nose, meaning I cook it until I can smell a sweet nutty scent. Once you make a roux a couple of times, you’ll come to recognize the scent. Usually by the time you can smell it, the color is golden brown indicating it’s cooked completely.

(2) When whisking milk into a roux, it helps to have the milk at least room temperature. You can do it with cold milk, but the mixture comes together easier with tepid or warmer milk.

When you start to pour your milk into the roux, start with about a third of the milk, then whisk to combine. Repeat until well combined.

(3) I know you’ll be tempted to eat right out of the pan with a giant spoon, but get a bowl. Little eyes are upon you!

EAT!

This is my favorite kind of recipe: easy to make, easy to eat!

The smoked paprika gives the dish a smoky pop of flavor that works well with the cheddar cheese.

The other thing you could do, if you can hold off from eating it at this point, is to throw the entire mixture into a buttered baking dish, top with bread crumbs and pop in a preheated 350° oven long enough to brown the crumbs.

Personally, I’d only do that if this dish was one of many, as in a family dinner.  Otherwise I’m eating it pretty quickly after it’s mixed.

If you’re making this for picky kiddies, omit the seasonings except the tsp of salt and I think you’d be good to go.

Happy cooking!

 

 

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Brandi

Saturday 28th of February 2015

Looks delish! How many does it feed?

Patti Tucker

Saturday 28th of February 2015

Hmmm, 4-6 maybe. I'm horrible at servings because we are bigger eaters than most.

Quick Dinner Ideas - CKD reset theme

Saturday 13th of December 2014

[…] And that’s why mums … and kids … everywhere still love macaroni cheese as in this fab recipe from Oh Mrs Tucker […]

Pary Moppins

Saturday 4th of January 2014

We fancy ourselves here in The Little Pink House as "Mac n' Cheese Connoisseurs." From your recipe, it looks like it would make the grade. ;) Yummmmm!!!!!

Mrs. Tucker

Saturday 4th of January 2014

I like it baked, but somehow it never lasts long enough to get in the oven!

Debi and Charly @ Adorned From Above

Sunday 30th of June 2013

Mac N Cheese is one of our favorites. Thanks so much for sharing with Adorned From Above's Blog Hop. The party will be back this week starting Tuesday and 8:00PM mountain time. We can't wait to see what you have to share this week. Have a great week. Debi and Charly

Mrs. Tucker

Sunday 30th of June 2013

I made it this week and threw some ground sausage into the mix as well. Yum!

Carrie from Carrie This Home

Friday 21st of June 2013

This looks so delicious! I'm like you--I like easy recipes I can make easily and start eating right away! Thank you so much for linking this up to Frugal Crafty Home! I hope to see you back next week!

Mrs. Tucker

Friday 21st of June 2013

Cute name for your site. And I almost made this today...again.

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