Mac & Cheese Recipe

Hi Nicole,

Here is my favorite mac and cheese recipe. It's actually a macaroni, cheese, and tomato casserole:

1 16oz box elbow twists
1 28oz can crushed tomatoes, drained
1 15oz can Italian seasoned tomato sauce
1 8oz pkg (2 cups) shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1 8oz pkg (2 cups) shredded lowfat Cheddar cheese
1/4 cup chopped parsley (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook elbows in plenty of boiling, lightly salted water for 8 minutes, or until slightly undercooked, and drain. Combine tomatoes, tomato sauce, and shredded cheese in a large bowl. Toss with pasta. Pour into a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Bake for 35-40 minutes. Top with chopped parsley for garnish (optional). Makes 8 main or 18 side-dish servings.

Have fun at the party!

This AWESOME recipe was made for me SUPER spicy the first time. When I made it, I changed the spices and made it a little more prego/toddler friendly. It's super long, but REALLY worth it. (The original recipe had cayenne pepper, jalepenos, etc. This taco version might be a little better for a birthday party. :-) Enjoy!)

Let me know if some of the recipe doesn't make sense.

INGREDIENTS:

o 3 TBS olive oil
o ½ onion, chopped
o 3 cloves garlic, minced (1 1/2 tsp)
o ½ lb ground beef
o 1/3 cup taco seasoning
o 1/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
o 2 cups milk
o 1 14oz can diced tomatoes, undrained
o 1 ½ cup grated cheddar cheese
o 1 lb. macaroni, cooked and drained
o 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
o ½ cup grated cheddar cheese
o vegetable oil for spraying baking dish

INSTRUCTIONS:
12. Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
13. Saute the onion, garlic, ground beef and taco seasoning in a large skillet. Cook until the meat is browned and the onion is soft.
14. Mix in the flour, and cook the mixture over moderate heat for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
15. Using a wire whisk, slowly incorporate the milk into the onion mixture until the flour and milk are blended.
16. Bring this to a boil, lower the heat to a simmer, and tomatoes with their juice. Simmer for 15 minutes.
17. Remove the pan from the heat, and stir in thecheddar cheese, blending until well mixed.
18. Combine the sauce and cooked pasta in a large mixing bowl.
19. Place the sauced pasta in a large greased baking dish.
20. Sprinkle with Parmesan and a little grated cheddar
21. Bake for 30-35 min., until the cheese topping is golden brown.

Hi Nicole -

I used one my mother-in-law makes and the kids LOVE it!

use an oval dish is best, pour in (1) 1lb box of elbows, melt some butter and stir that in, sprinkle in cheese (we use the mexican shredded mix) stir the cheese into the macaroni then sprinkle some on top, pour in enough milk to cover the macaroni just to the top then bake in the oven for about 35-45 min on 350.

Great dish for time crunches. Everyone asked me the recipe when I took to our pot luck lunch at church.

Enjoy the party!

S. M
www.EmpoweringWomenForSuccess.com

Here's another recipe to drool over:

1 lb. elbows
3 cups sharp cheese shreded
3 tbs butter
4 tbs flour
1/2 tsp paprika
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
3-1/2 cups hot milk
1/2 cup buttered bread crumbs

cook pasta as directed. melt butter in saucepan, blend in flour, salt, and pepper. add hot milk, simmer 1 minute stirring constantly. add 2-1/2 cup cheese, stir til smooth. combine drained macaroni with sauces in buttered baking dish. top with 1/2 cup cheese, bread crumbs and paprika. bake uncovered at 375 degrees for about 20 minutes.

This has abeen a childhood recipe that I make at all my parties and the kids LOVE it. It's so easy to make.

FYI...I have my own personalizing party favor business. Check out my website www.littleshopoffavors.com to see all the great favors I have for children's birthday parties. I give a 10% discount to Mamasource customers.

S.

This is my kids favorite. And my favorite too, especially since it is no bake and very simple to put together in a snap.

2 cups whole wheat elbows, cooked 8 minutes

In saucepan,

Melt 4 Tablespoons butter, add 1/4 cup flour. Whisk together and cook on low for a minute or so, until thickening.

Slowly add 1 1/2 c. milk
then 2 cups (8 oz) shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Continue to stir and whisk together until cheese melts.

Add the following:

1/4 tsp. ground mustard
1/2 tsp. ground pepper
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. Worcestershire Sauce

Mix well and add the elbows.

Enjoy! I don't know a kid who hasn't liked this recipe.

This is my favorite Mac-n-cheese. Most kids don't like the bread crumbs so leave them off if you want.

cook 1lb elbow mac drain and set aside.

in sauce pan over medium heat mix 2 cans of evaporated milk, 2 tbs flour and 1 tbs butter.

slowly add small pieces of yellow american to melt. 1 lb

pour melted cheese over macaroni in casserole dish.

Place slices of american cheese over top to cover.

mix bread crumbs with melted butter and spread over slices of cheese.

bake at 350 for 30-40 min.

have fun!

hi Nicole, my hubby makes a great mac n chz but I highly suggest altering the recipe for kids. kids usually love milk and velveeta.

Hi Nicole, A wild west party sounds like fun:-) I like to add chunks of ham to my mac and cheese. I just go to the deli and ask for a thick slice and cut it up into squares. My kids love it. Some people add some diced tomato (minus the juice) if you buy the can of DelMonte. what ever you do, have fun! Grandma Mary

I am a SAHD of 3 girls, 15, 5, & 2 1/2. Things get a little crazy sometimes, so I try to come up with easy "cheat" recipes.
I use 1lb of any pasta, elbows & spirals being favorites. Cook the pasta, drain & rinse, then add 1 jar of Ragu Double Chedder sauce to cooking pot & dump the pasta in & mix on low heat for just about a minute. After that, it's up to you. You can bake it uncovered to brown the top. I've also added things like small cubes of ham, chicken, or tuna, Veggies. Even added popcorn chicken once. Either way, it's easy & my picky eaters love it. Mac & cheese is their favorite food...Mine too.

I boil the elbows and mix it with mexican shredded cheese. Then I heat up a can of stewed tomatoes and put it on the side just in case someone doesn't like tomatoes in their mac and cheese. Also I put it in an aluminum pan it cook it for about 30 minutes (the mac and cheese that is)in the oven at 350 or 400. If your kids like shrimp you can put some cooked shrimp in it also. Big hit in this house and I've taken it to parties, always got rave reviews. Good luck.

Here's a great crock pot Mac & Cheese from Mr. Food (you see him on local TV news programs)

Mr. Food's All-Day Macaroni & Cheese

8 oz. elbow macaroni, cooked and drained
4 cups (16 ounces) shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
1 12 oz. can evaporated milk
1-1/2 cups milk
2 eggs
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper

Spray crockpot with Pam non-stick spray. Place macaroni in and add all other ingredients EXCEPT 1 cup of shredded cheese. Mix well adn sprinkle reserved cheese on top. Cover and cook on low for 5 to 6 hours or until mixture is firm and golden around the edges. Do not remove cover or stir until mix has finished cooking.

Every time I make this people rave about it!

R.

Growing up, my M. would every once in awhile have a mac'n'cheese bar -- lots of plain mac n cheese, then a buffet where you could add your own mixins --

hot dogs, baked beans, ground burger, paprika, peas, broccoli, tuna, fancy cheeses, snow peas, red cabbage from a jar, etc.

One of my favorite memories. Along with my brother eating peas through his nose, but that's another story.

I have one that I got from a Velvetta cookcook. Make your regular mac and cheese and add salsa.
1lb elbows
1lb block of velvetta or until it's cheesy enough for you
1 small jar salsa.
1/2 cup milk
Cook elbows as suggested. Drain
Turn down heat to med/low. Add milk and salsa to pot and heat. Slowly stir in Cheese. Continue to stir until all cheese is melted. Add elbows and mix well.
I also make this with white rice. Either way it's easy and great.

just be prepared -- i LOVE homemade mac and cheese, and my 3 yo daughter (who is NOT picky and eats everything) will never eat any of them and constantly asks for the orange kind. good luck!

I'm not a big mac and cheese fan, but my friends mother use to make hers this way... so I started making mine this way when I went out on my own and got married. Everytime people would come over for occasions where I made it... they RAVED about it. I actually have a friend in Utah who whenever her and her husband come to visit they make me make it lol... It's a baked mac and cheese though, not sure if you're looking for a more stove top kind

1 Box of craft Delux
1/3 Block of mild cheddar cheese
a can of cream of mushroom soup (if you don't like mushrooms you can sub w/cream of chicken or cream of celery... I've used all and it tastes no different, just some people don't like mushrooms even though you can't taste them or tell they are in there lol)
1/2 cup of milk
1 egg

Boil the noodles, when they are done add the cheese that comese w/the Kraft delux. Then add your other ingredients and throw it in the over until it's firm.

by far, the best i have made yet! i just made it this past thursday for a dinner playdate for 20+ adults & kids! they loved it. this will fit in 1/2 tin tray. here it is...

1 pound penne or elbow macaroni
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
4 cups milk, heated
2 cups (8 ounces) shredded extra-sharp cheddar cheese
2 cups (8 ounces) finely chopped American cheese
Salt and freshly ground pepper
Hot pepper sauce
1/4 cup (1 ounce) freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the penne and cook until al dente. Drain well.

Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter a deep 4-quart casserole.

Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour. Gradually whisk in the milk. Bring to a simmer, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes.

Remove from the heat and stir in 1 cup of the cheddar cheese and 1 cup of the American cheese. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and hot sauce.

Combine the remaining cheddar and American cheeses. Spread one third of the penne over the bottom of the casserole dish. Top with half of the shredded cheese and a third of the sauce. Repeat, using another third of the penne with the remaining cheese and half of the sauce. Finish with the remaining penne and sauce. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the top.

***Bake until bubbly and golden brown around the edges, about 30 minutes.

*** it dont need to be baked if you don't want to.

We use the recipe on the back of the Elbow Macaroni box made by Mueller. I always add extra cheddar cheese on top of the recipes - it is ALWAYS delicious!

Another mix is to add a little can of Italian Roma Tomatoes (chopped) - it adds a little flavor and a veggie ;)

K.

check out www.thepioneerwoman.com
she has a mac and cheese recipe on her site that you may like.

Hi Nicole,

I love homemade mac and cheese and have fooled around with a ton of recipes. This one is definitely NOT low fat, but it's really tasty. If you like stouffers frozen mac and cheese, you'll like this.

Cook 1 lb of elbows, or penne rigate until al dente, let cool.
In a sauce pan stir together one can of campbells cream of cheddar soup and one and a half cans of 2% or whole milk, add salt and pepper to taste, cook mixture until it comes to just a simmer.
Turn off heat and add one and a half cups of medium or sharp cheddar, stir until just melted. Poor noodles and mixture together into an oven safe casserole. Cook at 350 until bubbly, about 25-30, you can crush up town house or ritz cracker to put over top. It makes me want to make some right now LOL.