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"The most remarkable thing about my mother is that for thirty years she served the family nothing but leftovers. The original meal has never been found."--Calvin Trillin

Creamy Homemade Mac and Cheese Recipe

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This recipe for Creamy Homemade Mac and Cheese is from Rees Family Recipes, one of the cookbooks created at FamilyCookbookProject.com. We'll help you start your own personal cookbook! It's easy and fun. Click here to start your own cookbook!
Category:
Category:
Ingredients:  
Ingredients:  
1 lb. dried medium pasta shells
½ cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
½ cup of all purpose flour
1 ½ cups of whole milk
2 ½ cups of half and half
2 cups of grated medium sharp cheddar
1 cup of grated Gruyere cheese
½ Tbsp. salt
¼ tsp. paprika
Directions:
Directions:
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. When boiling, add dried pasta and cook according to the package directions. Drain pasta and drizzle with a little bit of olive oil to prevent noodles from sticking.
2. While water is coming to a boil, grate cheeses and toss together to mix, then divide into two piles.
3. Melt butter in a large saucepan over MEDIUM heat. Once butter is melted sprinkle in flour and whisk to combine. Mixture will look like very wet sand. Cook for approximately 1 minute, whisking often. Slowly pour in about 2 cups of a half and half/milk mixture while whisking constantly, until combined and smooth. Slowly pour in remaining half and half and milk and whisk until fully combined and smooth.
4. Continue to heat over MEDIUM heat, whisking very often, until thickened to a very thick consistency.
5. Stir in salt and paprika and 1 ½ cups of the cheese mixture, stirring to melt and combine. Stir in the remaining 1 ½ cups of cheese mixture and stir to melt and combine the cheese. Once it is all combined and mixed well, add the noodles to the cheese mixture. Stir to incorporate the cheese sauce and the noodles. Serve while hot for best results.
Preparation Time:
Preparation Time:
30 minutes
Personal Notes:
Personal Notes:
For Baked Mac and Cheese:
1. Preheat oven to 325 F and grease a 9'X13" baking dish. Shred an extra 2 cups of cheddar cheese and 1 cup of Gruyere cheese. Combine them and then make two separate piles for later.
2. Prepare mac and cheese as instructed above. (Cook noodles to al dente if afraid of noodles overcooking in the oven)
3. After combining the cheese and noodles pour half of the mac and cheese into the prepared baking dish. Top with 1 ½ cups of the shredded cheese mixture then pour the rest of the mac and cheese on top. Top with the remaining shredded cheese and then bake for 15 minutes or until the cheese is a golden brown.

 

 

 

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