I’ve baked it and have made it on the stove top, like the recipe here. I’ve had it on pizza (it’s odd for me) but when put in a pizza puff… OMG it’s amazing! I’ve had it breaded and deep-fried, on a stick, made it in the microwave at work and I’ve had it on grilled cheese. One of my favorites is mac ‘n cheese with cooked chicken, broccoli, cauliflower and bacon in a quiche-like crust. I’ve gone fancy with lobster, crab and gruyere to full-blown meals made up of mac ‘n cheese. I’ve made it countless ways with various noodles. It wasn’t until I went out on my own and really got into cooking did I explore the world of mac ‘n cheese and go beyond cheddar. However it surely was a bajillion times faster to make and let’s face it 6 boxes for a $1 can’t be beat when you’re on a college budget. It didn’t taste like cheese and surely didn’t taste like Mom’s. It wasn’t bad though it’s not something I honestly liked. the powdery stuff is neon orange traffic cone color I used to say. Once I hit college I had my first taste of the boxed stuff. We’d have cut up hot dogs, tuna fish, stewed tomatoes (GAG to this day!), cooked broccoli (hated it then but now I LOVE IT!) and so forth. Then Mom would add mix-ins to the simple butter-flour-milk-cheese-macaroni mixture.
Once she had that in went pounds of cheese. Next she’d whisk in the milk to make one of the Mother Sauces (bechamel). Mom would make up a roux (melted butter then add in some flour, cook that for a minute). Granted I’m not sure if it really was actual cheese though.). At times we’d have to get food from the government (I don’t care what people say that gov’ment cheese was awesome. See the thing is for me I didn’t grow up on the boxed stuff. Mom knew, however, that I would always eat mac ‘n cheese. See I was that child who, while fat, was the pickiest eater EVER. Now back to what’s important… shoveling forkfuls of this luscious cheesy goodness in your pie-hole!Mac ‘n Cheese is a source of comfort for me as I’m sure it is for most of you all. The only time you bake it is if you want that crispy crunchy crust. It’s not baked but good ol’ fashioned stove top. This is NOT your boxed mix as my cheese does not glow in the dark nor is it neon.ģ. Sure I could have titled this post “Pasta and Cheese Sauce Extraordinaire” but yeah, that’s boring and not many would type that in to search for it.Ģ. Yes I know it’s not true macaroni noodles (I used cavatappi cause they are my favorite) so it’s truly not ‘macaroni and cheese’ per se. Wait before I go on let me state a few things:ġ. Macaroni and cheese is one of those dishes that has a near and dear spot in my heart. Simply The Best Mac and Cheese ever! Bold words but this recipe is that in every single, delicious, cheesy bite! Make sure to read the content as it contains chef tips, substitution options, answers to FAQs to help you succeed the first time around! To keep it from becoming a mushy mess, undercook the pasta by a minute or two before adding the cheese and popping it in the oven.Find the recipe card at the end of the post. Your cheese sauce wants the pasta to still have some form when it comes out of the oven. When choosing pasta, skip over the sleek and skinny noodles for curvy shapes that have nooks, crannies, grooves, and holes that can trap the cheesy goodness.Ĥ. When melting your cheese, if you heat it too fast, you're likely to end up with lumps. No worries – you can combine two or more cheeses to get the perfect balance of creamy goodness and soul-satisfying flavor.Ģ. A few cheeses do both (that's a shout out to you, cheddar, emmentaler, and your other alpine-style, fondue favorites). For really great macaroni and cheese, you need a cheese that melts well and a cheese that packs a punch. That said, there are a few tips we can pass on that'll deliver even louder cheers of culinary delight at the table.ġ. The beauty of mac n' cheese: any way you make it, it's gonna be great.