How do you make Mac & Cheese?

[pas2]

After reading the other thread about what to serve with mac and cheese I wondered if everyone makes this dish with a melted cheese sauce? I don't, I just layer american and cheddar cheese with the cooked macaroni, s&p then pour hot milk over the whole thing, top with bread crumbs and butter and bake. Easy as pie!

So I guess this is a poll, how do you make your mac & cheese?

 

[bananiem]

Out of the blue box!!! tee-hee!
Seriously though, my Mom always made it from scratch with a melted cheese sauce. I remember it being just the best. I think I tried once and burned it.

 

[piratesmate]

We just had this last night! I just melt cheese in a white sauce. I buy cheese ends from the deli & use those - so it's anyone's guess as to what type of cheese is in it! Last night, though, I thought it needed more cheddar - maybe because I tossed in some leftover baked ham.

My mother made hers similar to yours, pas. She always used extra sharp cheddar. Mmmm! I started doing it the other way after DS was born and $$ was tight.

My MIL also used cubes of cheddar - not the white sauce, but she stirs in a 12oz can of tomato puree.

Deb

PS bananiem - Every time I make from scratch, DD tells me she prefers the "orange kind from the blue box."

 

[pumba]

I melt a good dollop of margarine in a large frying pan.....add flour to make a good paste and then add milk......depends on how much I am making to decide on the milk
add a whole block of extra sharp cheddar cheese.....cut up of course....let it simmer and keep stirring....to prevent it from sticking
at the same time muellers macaroni is cooking.....we use muellers cause it doens't swell up like hubby hates.....hahaha
drain macaroni and put in big casserole dish......I mix in the melted cheese sauce and stir it in good
in another bowl......I put in another good dollop of margarine and italian bread crumbs....let it melt in the microwave......ten secs......then mix it up and dribble on the top of my casserole....put in oven for about twenty minutes.....

I love to make it......the grandkids love it.......

 

[My~Rumbly~Tumbly]

I make a white sauce and then add VERMONT! extra sharp cheddar. It's SOOOO yummy- we have it a lot!

If I'm in the mood for something different, I add to the above green beans and a can of drained and chopped tomatoes.

 

[MerryPoppins]

I either boil my macaroni with a chopped onion, or saute an onion while it cooks. (Depends on how quick I want to get it in the oven). When the mac is done and I've drained it, I add butter or margarine (unless I am cutting fat), then enough sour cream to coat the macaroni and make is smooth, usually 1 - 2 cups for a really big bowl (fat free works fine).

Then I stir in grated cheese. I use plenty of cheese because my family likes it really cheesy. The sour cream keeps the cheese from getting clumpy. Add enough milk that it won't be dry coming out of the oven. I add salt and pepper to taste and pop it in the oven at 350 for about 30 minutes or until melted and bubbling.

The onion compliments the flavor of the cheese and the sour cream makes it really rich. My kids call me the mac and cheese queen. They say no one makes homemade mac and cheese like their mom.

 

[cathyz]

Another vote for the "blue box". LOL.

Sorry, but that's the only kind my kids will eat. Your recipes all sound wonderful, though! I'll have to give one of them a try!

 

[RweTHEREyet]

I only make it from scratch for special meals, as I always make Patti LaBelle's Over the Rainbow Macaroni and Cheese, 5 kinds of cheese and half and half. It is alwyas requested at my office when we do a "food event". The recipe can be found at Oprah's site under Celebrity Recipes. It is to die for.