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A gooey dish of creamy mac and cheese makes for the perfect contribution to a pot luck or a simple home-cooked meal for your family. This page will walk you through the each of the steps to make the perfect macaroni and cheese, as well as provide some tasty alternate variation recipes once you've mastered the basics.
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A gooey dish of creamy mac and cheese makes for the perfect contribution to a pot luck or a simple home-cooked meal for your family. This page will walk you through the each of the steps to make the perfect macaroni and cheese, as well as provide some tasty alternate variation recipes once you've mastered the basics.
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Mac and Cheese Tips
- Be careful to continuously whisk your sauce as it is being cooked.
- Do not add the milk to the sauce mixture too quickly.
- Do not overcook your pasta.
- Bake until the top has browned.
- Experiment with the many variations available.
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- by Jacky Graves
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Introduction
Whether you're looking for a welcome side dish at a summertime barbecue, a casual springtime picnic or a big holiday dinner, there are few things as versatile-- and comforting-- as a homemade dish of macaroni and cheese. And unlike other comfort foods, there are also few such dishes that are quite so easy to make! -
Ingredients
- 6 tbsp butter
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 4 cups warmed milk
- 1 to 1-1/2 tsp dry mustard
- 1/8 to 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- Salt and black pepper
- 1 pound of pasta
- Most recipes call for the use of elbow macaroni, but feel free to experiment with other pastas, such as cavatappi pastaFood Network: Macaroni and Cheese Epicurious.com: Macaroni and Cheese
- 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup bread crumbs
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Step 1: Preheat the Oven and Prepare the Sauce
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Butter the casserole dish and set aside.Martha Stewart: Perfect Macaroni and Cheese
- In a large saucepan, melt the butter over moderately low to medium heat.Food Network: Macaroni and Cheese Epicurious.com: Macaroni and Cheese
- Add flour and cook for 1 minute, whisking continuously.Food Network: Macaroni and Cheese Epicurious.com: Macaroni and Cheese
- Slowly add the warmed milk while whisking.Martha Stewart: Perfect Macaroni and Cheese
- Stir continuously, and cook until the mixture bubbles and becomes thick.Martha Stewart: Perfect Macaroni and Cheese Food Network: Macaroni and Cheese
- While whisking, add the dry mustard, cayenne pepper, and salt and pepper to taste. Let the spices simmer in the mixture for 2 minutes.Epicurious.com: Macaroni and Cheese
- Stir in the cheddar cheese until melted.Martha Stewart: Perfect Macaroni and Cheese Food Network: Macaroni and Cheese
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Step 2: Cook the Pasta
- In a large saucepan, bring salted water to a boil.Epicurious.com: Macaroni and Cheese
- Add the pasta and cook until al dente (until the pasta is firm yet tender), about 7 minutes.Food Network: Macaroni and Cheese Epicurious.com: Macaroni and Cheese
- Transfer pasta to a colander and rinse with cold water.Martha Stewart: Perfect Macaroni and Cheese
- Drain well.
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Step 3: Assemble and Bake the Macaroni and Cheese
- In a large bowl, combine the macaroni and cheese sauce together.
- Transfer macaroni and cheese mixture to the buttered casserole dish.Epicurious.com: Macaroni and Cheese
- Sprinkle Parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs over the top.Martha Stewart: Perfect Macaroni and Cheese Food Network: Macaroni and Cheese
- Bake in the center of the oven for 25 to 35 minutes, or until browned on topFood Network: Macaroni and Cheese Epicurious.com: Macaroni and Cheese Martha Stewart: Perfect Macaroni and Cheese
- Cool dish on a wire rack for 5 minutes before serving.Martha Stewart: Perfect Macaroni and Cheese
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Variations
- Omit preparing the stove top sauce by layering the macaroni and cheese.All Recipes: Classic Macaroni and Cheese
- Paula Deen adds beef to her recipeFood Network: Wayne's Beef Macaroni and Cheese
- Try grilling your macaroni and cheese using Robin Koury's recipeFood Network: Robin Koury's Grilled Mac-n-Cheese
- Add a southwestern kick with corn chips and salsa verde.Epicurious.com: Nacho Macaroni and Cheese
- Add Muenster cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, and sharp cheddar cheese for a creamy dishAll Recipes: Four Cheese Macaroni
- Save some time by cooking in a crock potRecipezaar: Crock Pot Macaroni and Cheese
- Add green pepper, corn, chili powder and tomato sauce for a Mexican style dish.Recipezaar: Mexican Macaroni and Cheese
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