September 28, 2010

homemade mac and cheese

Word on the street is that mac and cheese season has officially arrived in blogland and as I'm always game for a little pasta throwdown, I'm going to throw my recipe in the ring. I actually have a whole list of unhealthy recipes I'm planning to share this fall and winter. I'm trying to decide if they get their own label in my side bar, something along the lines of *call your cardiologist* or *heart attack on a plate*. It's sad, but it's how we eat on a pretty regular basis. Gooey, cheesy, creamy, hearty, casseroley. That's how we roll. Throw in a salad a couple times a month, and we're good.

This recipe hails from my sister....a fabulous cook if there ever was one. It's a dangerous one for me to make because I eat twice as much as I should and end up in pain for the rest of the evening. But...it's worth it.



Macaroni and Cheese

2 cups macaroni - boil 8-10 minutes
6 T butter
4 1/2 T flour
2 1/4 C milk
6 slices American cheese
1 1/2 C shredded cheddar
1 tsp salt - adjust to your taste - we like things salty
1/4 tsp pepper

Melt butter in a large saucepan. Whisk in flour and stir till bubbly. Stir in milk and continue stirring until thickened. Add cheeses and salt and pepper.

Stir in cooked macaroni and place in a casserole dish.

Topping
2 slices bread, crumbled - I like to use whole wheat and I crumble it in the blender
1/2 cup grated parmesan
3 Tbs melted butter
Combine and spread over macaroni and cheese.

Bake 35-40 minutes at *350. I usually put foil loosely over the top for the last ten minutes or so as the topping gets pretty brown.

I also usually dice a ham steak and stir that into the macaroni and cheese. I get the ham steaks from Costco - they come in a three pack and are wonderful to have on hand in the freezer.

Oh, invisible friends, this is good stuff.

Serve with a Lipitor chaser and you're good to go.

34 comments:

  1. Law girl - now that be lookin' like some good mac and cheese! I like things salty too, and fatty, and served with a side of Lipitor. Now we wait for Shannan's and the circle is complete.

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  2. Sounds like it would be good with a cold beer!

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  3. I'm feeling like the girl on the Homecoming court who only made it in the first place because everyone felt sorry for her. I'm the cheerleader with the bad overbite and the knobby knees.

    You're all psyching me out with your Macs.

    I'm getting the shakes now...

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  4. Looks fat and delicious! Lipitor chaser haha!

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  5. YUM
    and it sounds so easy...
    I'm gonna try it this week!

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  6. Oh game on girl! I've never seen a recipe quite like it. I love the idea of the ham steak. I'll be looking for them at Costco on my next trip.

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  7. Looks and sounds so GOOOOOOD!!!!

    Blessings,
    Linda

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  8. All this mac and cheese talk... well we had to have our "own" version tonight. We use Gouda, is that too pretentious? Did I even spell that right? We'll have to work throught everyone's recipes...
    Chris

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  9. I have quite a collection of Mac & Cheese recipes. It's my favorite comfort food. I thought I found the best, but I'll try yours and let you know! Thanks for sharing!

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  10. I loooove mac & cheese. I even had it yesterday at Ikea, that's a die hard for you. Don't forget to add my beloved donut to your Lipitor recipe side bar. Donuts and Mac & Cheese, the perfect day.

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  11. Ohhhhh yeahhhh. Love that topping on some mac & cheese, but like I said, I think I need a bowl of everyone's so I can vote and see whose is the best. :)

    Don't feel bad...that's how our family rolls too. The more cheese, the better. Like that kid says on that commercial "My Dad could put cheese on cheese". Casseroles, pastas, sauces, cheese. That's us. Don't be hatin', folks.

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  12. This looks beautiful and delightful. I love ooey gooey goodness! Thanks for sharing.

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  13. Well it's no wonder you need lipitor--that's one and a half times more sauce than the original recipe called for!
    We won't even talk about what you do with the peanut butter ribbon in the Tillamook chocolate peanut butter ice cream. Your secret is safe with me.....

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  14. Lipitor chaser LOL!
    I will definitely try this!

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  15. So going to have to add this to my "To be made" file....YUM-OLA!! Thank you for sharing this wonderful idea!!
    ~Terrell @ FrouFrou Decor~

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  16. Even though I'm a dedicated reader of another one of the M&C ladies, this one got my vote. yum-O!

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  17. This is a great recipe! I just made it last week and we ate the whole thing. Thanks for sharing!

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  18. FYI - I just made this for the second time in less than 2 weeks. Yes, that is correct - I just made up a batch at 11:42 peaem. Have Mercy.

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  19. Just made this again. I plan to notify you every. single. time. (In case you hadn't noticed.)

    ps - I miss you, Benj!

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  20. Hi. I skipped the crumb topping. Again. Sue me.

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  21. I never cease to be amazed by the amount of butter in this. My arteries harden a little more each time, all because of you, Benji. And still? I return.

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  22. It's only so fitting that this was on the menu for tonight.

    Also? I just baked cookies and took them out to Calvin and his friends. Calvin brought the plate back in with one cookie still on it. "Wyatt thought they were gross."Uh, okay. I started back in to the house with the left-over cookie. "Mom? He licked it, just so you know."

    My day in a nut-shell.

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  23. Hi. Sick of me yet?

    I added dry mustard today cause that's just how risky I am.

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  24. This feels like as appropriate a time as any to tell you that I never do the bread crumbs.
    Can we still be soul mates?

    Also, Siley just went rogue (again) with a found black Sharpie in a matter of 5 minutes, while I was stirring the cheese. I'm teetering on the edge....

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  25. You would think I'd have this memorized by now...

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