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 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!
I am a huge mac & Cheese fan! Can’t wait to try this! Following you on Twitter! Can’t wait to see more!
Krista@ Far From Normal
Welcome and enjoy!
I love it! Thank you for spreading JOY and sharing at the Oh What a HAPPY Day party.
Holly at Not Done Growing
Love that you love it!
We are huge mac-n-cheese fans and love to try and tweak new recipes! I love the addition of the paprika in this one!
We would love for you to link this up with us at Living Well Spending Less! You can link up any of your thrifty projects each Thursday – we would love to have you join us! http://www.livingwellspendingless.com/category/thrifty-thursday/
The smoky paprika has a spicy kick to it. Love the addition and hope you do to. Thanks for the invite!
YUM…this sounds incredible! This would be perfect to link-up to my Create It Thursday post…it’s live now! http://www.lambertslately.com/2013/06/create-it-thursday-6-plus-features.html
Now I want some for dinner…
I love mac and cheese and this looks amazing! I would love if you would share this at my linking party http://www.fidlersunderoneroof.com/2013/06/fidlin-fridays.html
Will do!
Will do…thanks!
This looks and sounds like a winner! Thanks for sharen with us at One Sharendipity Place this weekend!
Sue @ thet2women.com
I could eat it every day…
This sounds good to me, but my picky daughter wouldn’t go for it. I found you on the Alexa toolbar for bloggers post. I am now following your wonderful blog, and if you want to stop by my blog, be my guest.
It’s OK. Just adjust the seasoning to salt and I bet your daughter would love it! I’m so glad you like the site. Welcome!
Yummylicious Mac n Cheese, Mrs. Tucker.
Thank you for sharing your recipe at Pin It Monday Hop Pinterest Party.
Judy
Pursuit Of Functional Home
You’re welcome!
This sounds delicious and looks amazing! Wish I had some right now as a matter of fact :o) I just pinned this to my food board :o) Thanks for sharing and I hope you have a wonderful night!
– croppedstories@gmail.com
Thank you and just so you know, it is pretty good!
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!
Cute name for your site. And I almost made this today…again.
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
I made it this week and threw some ground sausage into the mix as well. Yum!
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!!!!!
I like it baked, but somehow it never lasts long enough to get in the oven!
Looks delish! How many does it feed?
Hmmm, 4-6 maybe. I’m horrible at servings because we are bigger eaters than most.