Macaroni and Cheese

October 6, 2011 Leave a Comment

Macaroni and Cheese

This Mac and Cheese has been a staple at our house for decades. Loaded with Sharp Cheddar cheese and just a pinch of onion - what could be better. This is comfort food at it's best.

Print Recipe

Prep Time 30

Cook Time 30

Total Time 1

Servings 6

Ingredients

1/2 cup (6 ounces) elbow macaroni
3 Tab butter
1/4 cup onion, minced
3 tablespoons flour
1 1/2 cups milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
dash pepper
3 cups (12 ounces) sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded
1/4 teaspoon paprika
Tomato slices (optional)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cook macaroni in boiling, salted water - according to package directions - until tender. Drain.
In another saucepan, melt butter. Add onion; cook until soft.
Blend in flour and milk.
Cook and stir until thick.
Add salt, pepper and cheese, heating and stirring until cheese is melted.
Add the cooked and drained macaroni to the cheese sauce. Stir to combine.
Pour the macaroni/cheese mixture into greased 1 ½-quart casserole.
Sprinkle with additional cheese and paprika.
Top, if desired, with sliced tomatoes, sprinkled with salt.
Bake 30 minutes at 350 degrees or until bubbly and browned.

Notes

I always add a little extra cheese on top. . . . can there ever be too much cheese? I don't think so!

This is fabulous as is, but adding a little crumbled bacon or 4 ounces of cream cheese or sour cream never hurt a good thing - did they?

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Spring. Just the word congers up images of blossoms and bunnies, eggs and chicks. . . . and catalogs filled with tableware, linens and all the fresh spring color imaginable. . . . so when my spring edition of the Pier1 catalog arrived – I was immediately drawn to devour every page. The dinnerware, table settings, linens were, in typical Pier1 form, a wonderful feast for the eyes.

But, there was one thing that especially drew my attention. . .their adorable folded napkins – especially the little bunnies in the upper right corner of the page. The catalog directed readers to log on to their website for instructions – which I immediately did.

Upon arriving at the page, I searched for the Bunny Fold and found this. I grabbed some cloth napkins (which happened to be from Pier1) and, following their directions, began folding. It only took me to the 4th step to figure out that there was a real problem with the directions – they were rolling from the wrong side of the napkin. . . and by the final step – it was unmistakable.

I had created this. I took an unfolded napkin and the directions to my husband – who, as a builder, reads instructions for a living . . . and his response was immediate – these are not right. They have rolled from the long side and not the point – and used directions for a granny knot. It needs to be an ‘overhand’ knot. (50 plus years of scouting – he should know his knots!)

After making a few simple changes – rolling from the point and using an overhand knot – the finished product looked like the one in the Pier1 picture. Success!

And so, as much as I LOVE Pier1, no one is infallible. I have done my own set of instructions, including pictorials, for your use should you be wanting to try these little treasures. Such a simple way to dress up a spring or Easter table.

Just Click Here to go to the instructions. Happy Spring!

Enjoy,

Kathy

Macaroni and Cheese