Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Comfort Food Recipe

I have always been a comfort food lover. I love the aromas of a home-cooked meal or freshly baked cookies as they waft from my kitchen. This is probably one of the things I love most about the holidays as well. The smells of a Thanksgiving turkey dinner, or the filet mignon meal my Mom cooks every Christmas always bring back wonderful memories as they reach my nose.

I will admit it though. My all time favorite comfort food is macaroni and cheese. I know, how old am I? But, it's the truth. You may even catch me prepping a box of Kraft mac-n-cheese for myself here and there. Shame. So, when one of my besties passed on this new recipe for a slightly healthier homemade macaroni and cheese casserole, I knew I had to give it a try. 

Baked Macaroni & Cheese Recipe 

Image via
Ingredients
1/2 stick of butter
1/4 cup flour
2-2 1/2 cups milk
Shredded cheddar cheese (1 bag or shredded block)
Spices: oregano, paprika, cayenne pepper, seasoned salt, pepper)
Dijon mustard (about a teaspoon)
1 box of pasta (your choice)
Plain bread crumbs

Begin by melting butter in pot. Combine flour and melt/stir the butter until it becomes fluffy. Slowly whisk in milk and stir until mixture begins to thicken. Turn up heat and add your choice of the spices listed above (to your taste). Add squirt of dijon mustard. Stir well.

Begin adding handfuls of shredded cheese and stir as they melt. Reduce heat and stir until cheese sauce forms. 

Boil & prepare pasta.

Mix drained pasta with cheese sauce until the pasta is fully coated. Add mixture to casserole dish and sprinkle with more cheese and bread crumbs for topping. 

Bake 15-20 minutes at 350. 
  


I think you'll find that the combination of paprika, cayenne pepper and dijon mustard really set this recipe apart from your normal macaroni and cheese dish. I have already made this for new friends, cookouts and side dishes at home, and it's become a favorite of ours!

ENJOY!

2 comments:

Neely said...

Yummm...Im trying this!

Savanah said...

I love me some good mac&cheese! Looks delish!