Marvelous Macaroni And Cheese Recipes

CLASSIC BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until it's barely al dente. (It should be more al dente than your average pasta: It's going to continue to cook in the oven.) Drain and set aside.
• Meanwhile, heat butter in a medium pot over medium heat. (The pot should be large enough to hold all the pasta when cooked.) Whisk in flour and cook, whisking constantly, until the flour is foamy and just starting to turn a light golden brown, about 4 minutes. Slowly whisk in milk to avoid clumping. Add garlic, paprika and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, whisking constantly and paying special attention to the edges of the pot to make sure the flour mixture is totally incorporated.
• Add grated cheese and whisk to blend until the cheese is completely melted. (The sauce will seem thick at first and thin out as the cheese melts; it will thicken while it bakes.) Season with salt and pepper and add cooked pasta, stirring to coat well.
• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil (to catch any cheesy drips).
• Make the optional topping: Combine bread crumbs, melted butter and Parmesan, if using, in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper and, using your hands, mix well to ensure the bread crumbs are evenly coated.
• Transfer the macaroni and cheese mixture to a 3-quart or 9 x 13 baking dish and scatter bread crumbs, if using, evenly over the top. Place on prepared baking sheet and bake until macaroni and cheese is bubbling, thickened and creamy, and bread crumbs are evenly golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving.

CLASSIC MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
• Grease a 2 quart casserole dish. Place a quarter of the macaroni in the bottom, followed by an even layer of one-quarter of the cheese slices. Dot with butter and season with salt and pepper. Repeat layering three times. Pour evaporated milk evenly over the top of all.
• Bake, uncovered, for one hour, or until top is golden brown.

MARVELOUS SHELLS 'N' CHEESE

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, combine process cheese and milk; cook and stir over low heat until melted. Remove from the heat. Stir in cottage cheese and soup., Drain pasta and add to cheese sauce; stir until coated. Transfer to a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Sprinkle with Mexican cheese blend. Toss bread crumbs with butter; sprinkle over the top. , Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until heated through. Serve immediately. Freeze option: Do not prepare bread crumbs until later. Cool unbaked casserole; cover and freeze. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Prepare bread crumbs as directed; sprinkle over top. Bake casserole as directed, increasing time as necessary to heat through and for a thermometer inserted in center to read 165°.

MARVELOUS MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
• Cook macaroni according to package instructions.
• Drain, rinse and set aside.
• In same pot over low heat, melt the butter.
• Add flour, salt and pepper and whisk into melted butter until smooth.
• Simmer and stir until mixture thickens into a paste and is golden.
• Slowly add milk and whisk into butter mixture until smooth.
• Bring to boil and then simmer until thickened.
• There is no way to tell you how thick, except to say it should be thicker than gravy but not as thick as pudding.
• If you have made basic white sauce, you will know when it is thick enough.
• Remove pot from heat.
• Add cheddar cheese and stir until cheese starts to melt.
• Add macaroni and stir until coated.
• Pour into a 9 x 12 baking dish or 2 quart casserole.
• As an extra indulgence, you can sprinkle 4 oz more cheese on top.
• I only do this if I happen to buy a 12 oz bag or block instead of 8 oz.
• Bake about 20- 30 minutes, when you see top getting a bit crispy and brown.

MEL'S MARVELOUS MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Cook macaroni according to direction.
• Beat together egg, milk, mustard and salt.
• Saute onion in butter.
• Drain macaroni, add back into large pot. Mix in the milk mixture. Mix in the onion. Mix in 3 cups cheese.
• Pam spray casserole dish.
• Pour pot contents into dish.
• Bake at 350F for 25 minutes.
• Sprinkle remaining 1 cup cheese on top and a little bread crumbs and broil for 5 minutes.

SIMPLE MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, 8 minutes. Drain.
• Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat; stir in flour, salt, and pepper until smooth, about 5 minutes. Slowly pour milk into butter-flour mixture while continuously stirring until mixture is smooth and bubbling, about 5 minutes. Add Cheddar cheese to milk mixture and stir until cheese is melted, 2 to 4 minutes.
• Fold macaroni into cheese sauce until coated.