Tuesday

Tasty Tuesday: X Marks the Spot

Sometimes I’m like a dog with a bone when it comes to recipes and for years I’ve been on the hunt for a homemade macaroni and cheese recipe that 1) wasn’t dry, 2) wasn’t bland, 3) didn’t have Velveeta as one of the ingredients.  In the past few months, I found it. Not “it” really, but “them” because I combined two recipes to make one awesome homemade macaroni and cheese! My sister and Preacher Man both said it was as good as or better than Cracker Barrel’s mac and cheese. High praise indeed!

Here is what you need to make Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese:


1 (8 oz) package of macaroni, cooked
4 Tbsp. butter
4 Tbsp. flour
1 cup milk
1 cup cream
½ tsp. salt
½ tsp. onion powder
½ tsp. ground mustard
½ tsp. black pepper
Few dashes of Worcestershire sauce
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese and a little extra for sprinkling on top
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

First, melt the butter in a large saucepan.


Add flour and stir until well blended.


Pour milk and cream in gradually; stirring constantly.


Add salt, onion powder, ground mustard, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. 


Boil for two minutes or until thickened.


Reduce heat and add cheeses. 


Stir until melted. The cheese sauce is usually really stretchy from the mozzarella at this point so I just add some extra milk to bring back the creaminess.


Remove from heat. Add macaroni to saucepan and stir to coat with cheese sauce.


Transfer macaroni to a buttered baking dish. Bake for 10 minutes at 400 degrees.


Take out of oven and sprinkle top with extra cheddar cheese. 


Bake for 10 more minutes.


 So, so yummy and cheesy. It is a meal by itself.


Cracker Barrel good? You be the judge. J


Happy to have found my treasure after years of searching in the tree house,

Chelli

6 comments:

  1. mac -n- cheese is my all time favorite food, and I too have been on that hunt for a while. I'm going to have to try yours. Thank you!

    Donna @ ajoyfulmess.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Let me know what you think. It's not being replaced in our house!

      Delete
  2. Darn you!! I'm trying to diet! Now it's not even 8:00 in the morning and I'm already salivating.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. *rubbing hands together* Bwahahaha! You will make the macaroni and cheese and you will LOVE it!

      I'm dieting too, so I just allowed myself one spoonful. The cook has to try her own cooking, ya know? Luckily, my husband polished off the rest or temptation might have gotten the better of me!

      Delete
  3. Hi
    I made homemake mac and cheese for the first time today..it had a great taste and looks beautiful but unfortunately it just wasn't creamy like it's supposed to be:( Next time I am going to try your recipe..hope it's as creamy as it looks..maybe it is all in the cheese you use?? Mozzarella does melt nicely!!
    Thanks
    Denise

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I totally feel your pain, Denise. That's why I was so excited when I finally found a macaroni and cheese recipe that stayed creamy and tasted good! It took a while, but it was sooooo worth it.

      Delete