My homemade favorite.  Comfort food at it’s best! I make it the way my mom taught me, without specific measurements.  But for those of you who appreciate accuracy, here is the full recipe (with my notes in Italics) from The Fannie Farmer Cookbook, my favorite cookbook for homestyle cooking!

-Ingredients:

1/2 pound macaroni, cooked (I prefer whole wheat pasta)

2 cups Cheese Sauce (see how to make below)

1/2 cup grated sharp Cheddar cheese (or your favorite cheese)

1/2 cup freshly made buttered bread crumbs (I used Corn Flakes, but you can also use croutons, wheat germ, etc., whatever is a crunchy and tasty topping)

-Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Butter a 1 1/2-quart casserole dish.  Put the cooked macaroni into the casserole dish, pour the cheese sauce over it, and mix gently with a fork.  Sprinkle the grated cheese evenly over the top and spread the crumbs over the cheese.  Bake, uncovered, until the top is golden and the sauce is bubbling, about 30 minutes.

Cheese Sauce (remember you don’t have to be so exact with the specifications, they are just guidelines :-D )

-Ingredients:

2 Tablespoons butter

2 Tablespoons flour

1 1/4 cups milk, heated

Salt and Pepper to taste

1/2 cup grated cheese (pick your fav!) 

** Jill’s Secret Ingredient for the Sauce — Worcestershire Sauce — just a dash or 2 **

-Directions:

Melt the butter in a heavy-bottomed saucepan.  Stir in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, until the paste cooks and bubbles a bit, but don’t let it brown—about 2 minutes.  Add the hot milk, continuing to stir as the sauce thickens.  Bring to a boil.  Add salt and pepper to taste, lower the heat, and cook, stirring, for 2-3 minutes more.  Stir in 1/2 cup grated (you don’t have to grate the cheese, just slice it into small pieces if you want) cheese during the last 2 minutes of cooking, along with a pinch of cayenne pepper (I use paprika, yum!).  Remove from heat.  

And then dine with a favorite book or funny movie or catch up on your TiVo.  It’s a relaxing, cozy on up, and stay in type of night for you with this dish!  

If you have any recipes or comments please let me know by leaving a comment on here or on the JillyBites Fan Page on FaceBook or email me at jill@jill-jordan.com! 

Have an enchanted day!

xoxo

JJ