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! MAC~n~CHEESE

Ingredients:

Pasta:

4 cups cooked macaroni noodles

Cheese Sauce Ingredients:

4 tablespoon butter

4 tablespoon flour

3 cups milk

1 cup grated Monterrey Jack

½ - 1 cup grated mild cheddar

1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon smoked paprika (secret ingredient)

½ teaspoon onion powder

½ teaspoon 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 teaspoon of salt and I think you'd be good to go.

Happy cooking!

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