Some of you might think I’m crazy to say my favorite Macaroni and Cheese (aka mac ‘n cheese) has always come out of a blue box.  Yes, I admit my favorite version of mac ‘n cheese is the almighty Kraft Dinner.  Now, if you are going to lecture me about the artificial ingredients and sodium levels in the bright orange powder, there is no need, I am well aware.

 Photo Source:  Kraft

Not to worry, this blog post is not to teach you how to make a Kraft Dinner.  Rather, it’s about my quest to find a mac ‘n cheese recipe that can overtake my love for the packaged mix version.

My mac ‘n cheese needs to be rich, cheesey and gooey, where the pasta is coated with a layer of smooth and creamy sauce,  it should never be lumpy or grainy.   For this reason, I’ve never liked the casserole method because I always end up with a dry and crunchy macaroni.

I’ll be straight with you, I still haven’t found the perfect mac ‘n cheese recipe, but, I’m pretty content with the recipe I am sharing here ~ it is absolutely gooey-delicious!  But why do I think it’s not perfect?  I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it’s missing something that packs a punch to it.  If you know what it needs, do let me know.

But I promise you’ll be seeing a few more mac ‘n cheese recipe’s on this blog as you share my journey of kitchen experiments.

Macaroni and Cheese
Serves 2

1 tbsp unsalted butter
4 tsp all-purpose flour
1 cup tbsp skim milk
175g sharp cheddar cheese, grated
pinch of cayenne pepper
200g elbow macaroni
2 tbsp fresh Italian parsley, roughly chopped
salt and pepper

Grate the cheddar cheese and set aside.

In a large saucepan bring salted water to a boil, then add the macaroni and cook 1-2 minutes less than the directions on the packages (should be slightly underdone). Drain the macaroni in a colander and rinse with cold water to stop the pasta from cooking further. Drain well.

In another saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Then add the flour, and stir vigorously until it becomes a thick paste.

Add 1/4 cup of the milk to the flour mixture and mix thoroughly.  While stirring, add the remaining milk gradually until it almost boils.  Then add the grated cheese and continue to stir until it boils and the sauce thickens slightly and looks smooth (2-3 minutes).

Stir the macaroni into the cheese sauce and season with salt, pepper and a pinch of cayenne. Cook for another 2 minutes until the macaroni is al dente.  The just before switching off the heat, stir in the chopped parsley.

Serve and enjoy ~~

Source: http://www.helpful.com, http://www.marthastewart.com