Alright, listen up! Today, I’m gonna tell you how to make that old fashioned mac and cheese. That cheesy, gooey stuff, just like the one we used to eat. This ain’t no fancy-pants recipe, just good ol’ comfort food. So, gather ’round, and let’s get cookin’.
First thing you gotta do, boil some water. A big pot, mind you. And throw in some salt, gotta have salt in the water. Then you dump in your macaroni. Elbow macaroni, that’s the kind we’re usin’. Just plain ol’ macaroni. You can find it anywhere, this macaroni.
Cook that macaroni till it’s, you know, not crunchy. But don’t cook it too much, neither. We want it, uh, al dente, I hear them fancy folks say. Means it’s got a little bite to it, not all mushy like baby food. It is a good way to make old fashioned mac and cheese.
While that’s boilin’, let’s get to the cheese. Now, you can use any kinda cheese you like. Cheddar is good. The sharper, the better, I always say. But you can mix it up, too. A little of this, a little of that. Whatever you got in the icebox.
You gotta shred that cheese. Get yourself a grater, one of them box graters. And get to work. It’s a good arm workout, I tell ya. Shred it all up till you got a big ol’ pile of cheese. More cheese, more better. That’s my motto.
Now, for the sauce. This is what makes it all creamy and good. Melt some butter in a pan. Not too hot, now. We don’t want burnt butter. That is how to make old fashioned mac and cheese. Just nice and melted.
Then you sprinkle in some flour. Just regular ol’ flour. And you stir it around with the butter. Make a paste, kinda. That’s called a roux. I might be an old lady, but I know a thing or two. Keep stirrin’ till it’s all smooth and bubbly.
Next, pour in some milk. Whole milk is best, but whatever you got is fine. Pour it in slow, and keep stirrin’. Stir, stir, stir. That’s the key. You don’t want no lumps in your sauce. And you can put some black pepper in it. That is also good. Keep stirrin’ till it starts to thicken up. Like gravy, almost. But cheesier.
Now, the best part. Dump in that shredded cheese! All of it. And stir it around till it’s all melted and gooey and wonderful. Oh, it smells so good! That is old fashioned mac and cheese, and it is the best one. If you want to, you can add some smoked paprika, or some celery. Just use what you have.
Once the cheese is all melted, take it off the heat. And now you gotta drain your macaroni. Get a colander, one of them things with the holes. Pour the macaroni in there, and let the water drain out.
Now, put that macaroni back in the big pot. And pour that cheese sauce all over it. Stir it up good, make sure every piece of macaroni is coated in that cheesy goodness. It is important to make sure every piece of macaroni is coated in that cheesy goodness. Only by doing this, you can make a good old fashioned mac and cheese.
- Boil water and add macaroni.
- Shred some cheese, any kind you like.
- Make a sauce with butter, flour, and milk.
- Add the cheese to the sauce.
- Drain the macaroni and mix it with the cheese sauce.
Alright, now you got two choices. You can eat it just like that, all creamy and saucy. Or, you can bake it. And some people like to use nutritional yeast flakes to make the mac and cheese. I never use it but if you like it, you can try.
If you wanna bake it, pour it into a bakin’ dish. A casserole dish, they call it. Grease it up first, so it don’t stick. Then sprinkle some breadcrumbs on top. Makes it nice and crispy. You can use some fried breadcrumbs. That is also a good choice.
Pop it in the oven. About 350 degrees, I reckon. Bake it till it’s bubbly and brown on top. Maybe 20 minutes, maybe more. Just keep an eye on it.
And that’s it! Old fashioned mac and cheese. Just like your grandma used to make. If she was a good cook, that is. Serve it up hot, with maybe a side salad or somethin’. Or maybe you just want to put some mayo or dijon/pickle juice in it. That is also tasty. Just try it!
Now, don’t be afraid to experiment. Add some different spices, maybe. Some folks like a little hot sauce in theirs. Or some garlic powder. You can even throw in some cooked bacon, if you’re feelin’ fancy. As the pasta sits, it will release more starch and the sauce will thicken. So you need to add some milk to make it creamy. This old fashioned mac and cheese is the best, you will love it.
This here recipe is a good startin’ point. Make it your own. That’s what cookin’ is all about. Enjoy, everyone! And don’t forget to clean up your mess! This recipe is a good one for you to make a perfect old fashioned mac and cheese.
