Baked Macaroni and Cheese

I remember those days when I used to make the Macaroni and Cheese from the box for the kids.  Gone are those days.  As they grow, they started asking for restaurant style Mac & Cheese.  I started making them from scratch and kids loved them.  It is simple and not the baked version.

Now they started baking this rich version of Macaroni and Cheese occasionally, especially for get togethers and Thanksgiving dinner.   Its their task to make the Macaroni & Cheese for Thanksgiving.  All 3 of them would join, play their favorite music and make it.   They assign  tasks within them and always have fun cooking together.  

This baked Macaroni & Cheese is not the regular Mac and Cheese.  Its it full of flavor and has the rich and creamy texture.  The bread crumbs mixed with melted butter on the top gives the perfect crunch when broiled.  

Yields - 2.5 quart baking dish

Serves - 6 people

 Ingredients

2 cups/8oz - dry elbow pasta 

For the sauce

2 cups - milk

1.5 cups - half and half

2 cups - freshly grated cheddar cheese

1 cup - freshly grated mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup - freshly grated Gruyère cheese 

1/4 cup - all purpose flour

3 tbsp - butter

1/2 tsp - garlic powder

1/2 tsp - onion powder

1/2 tsp - Italian seasoning

1 tsp - pepper powder

1 tsp - salt

Toppings

3/4 cup - Freshly grated Mozzarella cheese

3/4 cup - freshly grated cheddar cheese

1/4 cup - bread crumbs

1.5 tbsp - melted butter

fresh or dry parsley

Directions:

• Cook elbow pasta according to the package directions.  Cook it al dente.
• Pre-heat oven to 350 F.
• Grease a 2.5 quart baking dish with melted butter.

Sauce

• Melt 3 tbsp of butter in a sauce pan and cook the all purpose flour to make the roux.
• Add milk and half & half and mix well with a whisk.   Add the garlic powder, onion powder, pepper powder and salt.  Cook till the sauce thickens.  Add the Italian seasoning; mix well and turn off the flame.
• Add the grated cheese and mix well.  Mix the sauce with the cooked elbow pasta.  Transfer it into the greased bakeware.
• Add the grated mozzarella and cheddar cheese on top.  Mix the melted butter with the bread crumbs and sprinkle over the cheese.
• Bake the Macaroni and cheese till the cheese melts and bubbles on the side.
• Broil the Macaroni & cheese for 1-2 minutes till the top gets the golden yellow color.
• Garnish with parsley.  Serve it when hot.

Notes:

• You can cut down the cheese if you want the macaroni and cheese to be on the lighter side.
• A mix of 2 -3 cheeses adds more flavor to the Macaroni and cheese.  
• This is a great side dish for get togethers and can be made ahead.  You can prepare the macaroni and cheese and keep it refrigerated till ready to bake.  Take it out 15 -20 minutes before baking.