I'm back, now let's get cooking!!! Mac & Cheese 101

A bit of Fall is in the air, and when I feel it, I start cooking comfort food. Mac & Cheese is one of my family's favorites.  It's really easy, once you make this recipe you will never buy the blue box again. This is a Martha Stewart's recipe.....but I've made it my own.

This is Mac & Cheese 101
6 Tbs butter
1/2 cup flour
5 1/2 cups milk - I use 2%
1 lb little shells or elbows
2 tsp salt, pepper to taste and 1 tsp, freshly ground nutmeg - buy it fresh it's so much better.
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (or whatever cheese you like but the cheddar is really good)

In a deep pot, melt the 6 Tbs butter, add the flour and mix with a whisk for 1 minute, do not let it burn! Immediately add the milk and constantly whisk, add the salt, pepper, and nutmeg....constantly whisking until it gets thick, it will take about 5 mins or so.......do not walk away or answer the phone, it will burn, keep whisking!!!

When the sauce gets thick, remove from stove and add the cheese...stir....taste it, does it need more salt, pepper? Add it....it's really yummie now. Cook the pasta, you all now how to cook pasta right? Well if you don't bring a big pot of water up to a boil, and add the pasta, stir it and let cook for about 7 minutes until done. Drain the pasta and add back to that big pot. Using that big pot to mix, pour the cheese sauce over the pasta and stir until all creamy and combined. Spray a large 9x14 casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray, and put the pasta with cheese sauce in the dish.

Topping: 4 Tbs butter melted
1 cup bread crumbs -
Melt the butter in a little pot and add the bread crumbs to the melted butter and stir until all combined. Put this topping on top of the mac & cheese...and bake in a 350 oven for 1/2 with foil on....take off the foil for the remaining 10 minutes. You will love this...give it a try, don't be scared, making a cheese sauce is one of the easiest things to make.......Enjoy!