CREAMY BAKED MAC AND CHEESE
CREAMY BAKED MAC AND CHEESE
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CREAMY BAKED MAC AND CHEESE
If theres one dish that makes its way across countless dinner tables and sparks nostalgia from the first bite, its the classic baked mac and cheese. Whether youre cuddling up on a winter night or just need that food hug after a long day, this gooey cheesy delight is almost always the answer.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb. elbow pasta (just like mama used to have)
- 1/2 cup of good ol unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk (the creamier the better)
- 2 1/2 cups half and half
- 4 cups of medium sharp cheddar cheese (shredded (and dont you go buyin it pre-shredded))
- 2 cups Gruyere cheese (shredded (again, shred it yerself, darlin))
- A pinch of salt (about 1/2 Tbsp.)
- 1/2 tsp. black pepper (for that kick)
- 1/4 tsp. paprika (for a lil color and flair)
Instructions
- Preheat that oven of yours to 325 degrees F. Grab a 9×13 baking dish and give it a good greasin.
- Now, fill a big ol pot with water and a sprinkle of salt. Get it boilin, then throw in the pasta. Cook it a minute less than what that there package tells ya for al dente. Drain it, and give it a splash of olive oil to keep it from gettin all clingy-like.
- While youre waitin on that water, get to shreddin yer cheeses. Mix em together and divide em into three piles. About 3 cups for the sauce, 1 1/2 cups to layer in the middle, and 1 1/2 cups for the golden top.
- Melt yer butter in a big saucepan over medium heat. Toss in the flour and give it a good whiskin. Itll look a bit like wet sand from the creek bed. Let it cook for a minute, keepin that whisk movin. Gradually pour in the half and half, keep whiskin. Once its smooth, add the milk. Keep on whiskin til its thicker than a cowboys accent.
- Take it off the heat and mix in yer spices and 1 1/2 cups of the cheeses. Give it a good stir til its smooth as a prairie sunset. Add another 1 1/2 cups of cheese and stir until its as smooth as a country ballad.
- In a big mixin bowl, mix that drained pasta with your creamy cheese sauce. Pour half of it into your greased baking dish. Sprinkle 1 1/2 cups of cheese over the top, then add the rest of the pasta mixture on top.
- Top it all off with the last 1 1/2 cups of cheese, then bake it for bout 15 minutes. When its all bubbly and lightly golden, youll know its done to perfection.
