Best Baked Mac and Cheese?

There is no two ways about it, when it comes to having a bad day, mac and cheese is the best way to end it. It’s creamy, rich, full of cheese, and leaves Benjamin sitting at me feet mentally trying to will me to drop the cheese I am shredding. You can bake it (we’re going to), make it easy, make it fancy, fill it with meat, or get it out of a KD box. However you want to make your meal, you can do it. And that isn’t even without addressing the best part, choosing your cheeses.

Ingredients

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• 3 Cups of Elbow Pasta (but you can really use any good small pasta)

• 1/2 Cups of unsalted butter

• 1/2 cup all purpose flour

• 4 Cups of cream

  • Alternatively 1-1/2 Cups of whole milk and 2-1/2 cups of Half and Half

• 4 Cups of cheddar

• 2 cups of mozzarella (substitute this for any good creamy cheese. Are you a gouda gal? A brie buddy? Swiss lass? Monterey Jack… jack?)

• 1/2 Cup of Parmesan, fresh

• 1/2 Tbsp. salt

• 1/2 tsp. black pepper

Optional Ingredients

• 1/2 cup of bacon, crumbled

• 1/4 cup green onion, freshly chopped

• 1/4 tsp. of paprika

Instructions

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1. We’re going to be baking our Mac and Cheese, so we need to preheat the oven. Set it to 325°F, and let it heat.

2. Shred your cheese. I know you are thinking of buying pre-shredded, but trust me, it is worth the effort to shred yourself. Mix all your cheese together.

   • 1-1/2 cups will be for the top layer when we bake, put this aside now.

3. Give some of that cheese to Benjamin, who is waiting patiently at your feet. Not a lot though, cheese isn’t good for dogs.

4. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil, and then add your pasta. Be sure to undercook it a hair if you are going to bake it, so it doesn’t get mushy and gross. If you are not baking, cook it the whole way.

5. Melt butter in a sauce pan at medium heat (go a little bigger than you think you need) and then sprinkle in your flour, whisking it together. It will look like wet sand, and taste about the same. Keep whisking for about a minute

6. Whisk in about half your cream/milk until the mixture in the pot is smooth. Unceremoniously add the rest at this point. Add your pepper. Add some more pepper because you like flavour.

7. Did you forget about your pasta? Check on that. Probably good to drain it.

8. Is your mixture thickening? Good, reduce your heat and begin to sprinkle in your cheese. Continue stirring. When you are about half way, remove from heat, adding the rest of your cheese. If you have your mix ins, now you add them.

9. Combine your pasta and cheese sauce together, mixing until fully incorporated. Pour into a baking container large enough to contain your pasta mess.

10. Take that cheese you put aside and your partner has been secretly nibbling on when they think you aren’t looking, and sprinkle on top. Add parmesan on top, and place into oven to bake for 15 minutes.

11. Remove and let cool for 5 minutes,. Or burn your mouth, I am not your parent.

Now you know how to make my favourite sad boi dinner, mac and cheese. It’ll keep for about 2 days in the fridge, if you made too much, but I personally recommend just sitting there and eating it all to yourself in one sitting.

Mac and Cheese