Easy Homemade Mac and Cheese

Who does not swoon over Easy Homemade Mac and Cheese? Let me show you how to prepare a from scratch mac and cheese recipe that everyone will love.

Easy Homemade Mac and Cheese Video

HOW DO YOU PROPERLY COOK PASTA?

Pasta needs room to cook in boiling hot water. Water level should be determined by the amount of pasta you are cooking. Your pasta noodles should be covered with the water the entire time of boil.

Before you add your elbow noodles add salt to your water when it comes to a boil.

A good quality salt will enhance the flavor of the easy homemade mac and cheese recipe. Only add a pinch of salt to a small pot of water or two pinches for a large pot of pasta water.

As your pasta is cooking remember to gently move noodles around to prevent sticking to pot or together.

Cooking times will vary depending on your type of pasta, check with the package to determine cook time.

Your pasta noodles should be tender and not soggy. If cooking your pasta in an oven after boiling you want to be a bit firmer.

Always save a bit of the pasta water after you drain pasta noodles to add to cheese sauce.

Adding pasta water to cheese sauce will not only lighten the sauce but enhance the flavoring.

When you drain your pasta noodles you do not need to rinse with water unless you are using in a cold salad such as pasta salad.

HOW TO STORE PASTA LONG TERM?

Pasta comes in many shapes and sizes, and I love trying all it in varies recipes. Most pasta that are bought are dry but, I have bought some fresh. Fresh pasta will not take long to cook; but dry pasta will take a bit longer to cook.

I cook with dry pasta a lot because it is affordable and easy to store.

Store dry pasta after buying from the grocery store in a cool, dry place for up to a year. Fresh pasta will need to be refrigerated or can be frozen.

Refrigerate Easy Homemade Mac and Cheese Recipe for up to five days or freeze up to six months.

Which Cheese is Better for Easy Homemade Mac and Cheese

Cheese choices are never ending these days, there are many options on the market. Choices a cheese depends on taste, flavor and color. Some individuals love a longer aged cheese such as parmesan, asiago, or gruyere.

Chedder Cheese is a yellow cheese is hard and can be white or yellow. I like to use a combination of yellow and white cheddar cheese for this easy homemade mac and cheese. The famous cheddar cheese originated in England and is now all over the world. Cheddar Cheese is not aged as long as the cheesed I mention earlier.

You can buy your cheddar cheese by the taste. For Example, Sharp, Extra Sharp, medium, cheddar cheese is determined by the aging process. Flavor is created by how the cheddar cheese is cultured and can result is a tangy or sweet.

Why is cheese white or yellow? Cheddar cheese colored is very simple a yellow cheddar cheese is aged with an additive called annatto. Annatto is a seed powder that has an earthy taste and used to change and preserve the flavor of cheddar cheese.

I like both white and yellow cheddar cheese and the sharper the better.

Making Easy Homemade Mac and Cheese Ahead of Time

There are many ways to prepare this Easy Homemade Mac and Cheese dish ahead of time.

Preparing the elbow noodles ahead and store in refrigerator before you are ready to make the cheese sauce is one way.

You can precook your noodles twenty-four to forty-eight hours before making cheddar sauce.

Another way you can prepare this homemade mac and cheese recipe is to make the entire recipe and pause before cooking in oven. Often times when I am feeding a crowd, I make the entire recipe in the morning and then bake forty-five minutes before I am about to serve.

Easy Homemade Mac and Cheese Recipe

Confort food is essential during the colder months and a cheesy homemade mac and cheese warms anyone’s soul!

Ingredients

• 1 package of dried elbow macaroni
• 1/4 cup Grass Fed Butter
• 1/4 cup All-Purpose Flour
• 2 cups of Whole Milk
• 1 teaspoon of Sea Salt
• 1/2 teaspoon of Black Pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon Onion Powder
• Half teaspoon Garlic Powder
• 1/4 teaspoon Ground Mustard
• 1/4 teaspoon Paprika
• 1/4 turmeric powder
• 2 cups of Yellow or White Cheddar Cheese (I love to use a combination of white and yellow cheddar cheese)
• 1/4 cup of pasta water

First, preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Next, in a large pot of water bring to a boil and add a pinch of salt. When the water is at a full boil add your macaroni shells and cook according to the package instructions. Remember to undercook at the lowest recommended time. Drain your pasta and set aside.

Meanwhile in a sauce pan over medium heat, melt butter. When butter begins to foam whisk in flour. Whisk butter and flour for about two minutes.

Slowly add milk and cook while stirring constantly. Add sea salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, ground mustard, turmeric and paprika. Cook for five minutes.

Add cheddar cheese and cook until the cheese is melted. Next, add your pasta water a bit at a time to gain the desire consistency of the sauce.

Pour cheese sauce over pasta noodles and mix until combine. In a baking dish grease lightly with a pat of butter.

Transfer your easy homemade mac and cheese to your prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with a bit of paprika and cheese. Bake uncovered for thirty minutes.

Serve with a delicious salad or bring to a large gathering. Will serve 8 individuals

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