Baked Macaroni & Cheese

This is another one of my favorite recipes from the Farmhouse Kid's Cookbook (ya know, Mrs. Boot with Rusty and Sam). Mom made it with me for dinner one night along with the potato-apple salad. It takes more time than regular macaroni and cheese but is out of this world good. Comforting, creamy, warm, with strong cheddar flavor. I like using a mix of sharp white cheddar and mild yellow.

Baked Macaroni & Cheese

Ingredients:

• 3 cups dried macaroni
• 4 Tablespoons butter
• 4 Tablespoons flour 
• 2 2/3 cup milk 
• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese, 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
• salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Cook macaroni. Drain and set aside. 
2. Melt butter, stir in flour into a pot over medium heat and cook for one minute. 
3. Take pot off of heat and add slowly stir in milk. 
4. Return pot to stove and bring to a boil, continually stirring. 
5. Let sauce boil (with bubbles) for one minute, then turn off heat. Stir in 1 cup cheese. 
6. Pour sauce over macaroni and stir to coat noodles. 
7. Grease an oven baking dish, pour in macaroni. Sprinkle remaining 2 cups of cheese on top. Bake for 25 minutes at 375 until the top is golden brown.