I cannot cook, but want to have a go at macaroni cheese next week, how do YOU make it?

[sunburntats]

I want it to be a meal, so want to hide vegies in it.

How do you do yours?

ps, ive never made it before so be gentle with me

Make cheese sauce (there's a great recipe for cheese sauce made in the microwave on here if you search), boil macaroni, mix with cheese sauce and put in the oven (gas 4) with some extra grated cheese on the top until the cheese is bubbling and melted/browning.

I sometimes put slices of tomato and/or breadcrumbs on top before it goes into the oven. My mum adds bacon and/or hard boiled eggs sometimes.

Serves 4
Ingredients:
225g Macaroni (or penne or whatever) Pasta
275g Red Leicester cheese, grated/finely chopped
4 Rashers streaky bacon, chopped
half an Onion, chopped
1 Tin Chopped Tomatoes
1 level tsp wholegrain mustard
1 tsp vinegar
1 ½ Pint water
Pinch of pepper

Method:
1.Put macaroni, onion, tomatoes & bacon in water.

1. Add vinegar, mustard & pepper. Bring to boil, simmer until nearly all the water is gone.

3.Remove from heat, add grated cheese (reserve some for topping) and mix in. 4.Put mixture in large dish, sprinkle rest of cheese on top. 5.Put in oven on 200°C for 30/40 mins until top is golden brown and bubbly.

i sometimes mix small floretsof broccoli in the pasta and cheese, or baby asparagus or othr green veg.

use a strong mature cheese and a teaspoon of english mustard n the cheese saue, it tastes so muchg richer and more flavoursome

i make a cheese sauce thus:

chunk of butter in a hot heavy bottomed pan

melt it, add a big tablespoon of flour and mix so it's a yellow paste

add milk and/or stock slowly, reduce the heat and stir until a smooth sauce, it should coat the back of a spoon

then add your cheese and mustard and stir

i don't do quantities, just do it by sight and taste!!

not sure how you'd hide veggies in it but fwiw this is my way..

melt a tbsp butter in pan, add 2tbsp plain flour, mix, then add milk until it becomes a sauce. then chuck in some grated cheese and a tsp of wholegrain mustard.

boil macaroni in a pan according to the instructions, when cooked tip it into the pan with the cheese sauce mix it up, put in an oven dish, sprinkle some more cheese on top and bake in oven for 15 mins ish.

yum

this is my absiolute favourite comfort food meal!

I like it really simple: just macoroni (slightly under-cooked so it doesn't go all horrible and flacid later) and lots of cheese sauce (I make it in the microwave and add a bit of grainy mustard to it) sprinkled with more cheese and baked. It is also nice with some sauteed leeks and mushrooms mixed into it but the dds won't eat it then.

Mmmmmm my favourite!

40g butter, melt, add 40g flour whilst still on heat, stir for a minute or two. Remove from heat, gradually add 600ml of heated milk, stirring after each addition. Return to heat, stir while thickens. Then add whatever you want - cheese, cooked pasta, cooked bacon, cooked veggies, mustard.

put in oven proof dish, sprinkle with grated cheese, sliced tomatos, grill til brown.

I've never had macaroni cheese before...I've always thought it sounded too cheesy! However DS has been asking for it all week (after seeing it on cafeworld ) I've promised him I'll look into it.

is homemade sauce crucial? time is usually of the essence, and while I mostly cook from scratch, I dont want to spend ages making something that may end up in the bin!

KickNack - search the archives for the microwave cheese sauce. Less than 5 mins start to finish, honest!

Homemade sauce is certainly essential. Ready made cheese sauce tastes like rotten socks.

For a cheats version heat some creme fraiche and stir in grated cheese and some seasoning and add to the cooked macaroni, my kids certainly like it like this when I can't be bothered to make cheese sauce.

home made cheese sauce takes moments and once you can do it then you really are all set to make a whole range of other sauce based meals.

i don't measure or weigh i just do a table spoon of butter and a table spoon of flour for the roux.

We all love macaroni cheese but the cheese bit (i.e. loaded with fat) makes me feel guilty about it. I found the weight watchers recipe that uses vegetable stock as part of the cheese sauce delicious and even got it past the rest of the family. It's probably online somewhere...

If we're really pushing the boat out I make a luxe version - with white wine in the sauce and crispy bacon lardons (not a healthy option I realise).

But I'm planning to try the extra healthy verion in this months Good Food magazine - it's a lot lower fat than usual but still with all the taste....

Thanks every one, wish me luck!

OH MY GOD!! I AM A COOOOKING GODDESS!
It was absolutely delish and ds ate every last bit.
Did it a bit different,
fried off some onions and garlic,boiled some carrots and brocili boiled up my pasta, made the cheese sauce, put it all in a dish, gave it a mix up topped with a bit of grated cheese and parmisan and then shoved it in the oven for 15 mins....honestly, it was absolutely to die for

im like a PROPER mum who cooks for her kids and everything!!!

Sounds yum Sunburntats.
Trundling along much to late is my super easy one - Drain boiled pasta, reserving some of the water.
Return to pot, stirring in handful strong grated cheddar, knob butter, couple tablespoons reserved water, seasoning. Stir stir stir on the heat for a minute till all melted in.
Add what you like at this point, spinach, fried mushrooms, bacon etc.

Ta-da. Nyom

I always put mild curry powder (to your taste) in the cheese sauce. I also soften a chopped up pepper and put that in too.

wukter how easy is that! saves allot of mixing and stuff, think i will do it your way next time. Ta chuck

I prefer it to the cheese sauce way, which is just as well really!

Easy cheese sauce:
Pint of milk in a bowl
Put in 2 tablespoons of flour and a big knob of butter
Put in microwave for 2 mins on Full power.
Whisk.
Microwave for 2 more mins, whisk again. Then if not thick enough do in microwave for one more minute. Add grated cheese.
Voila !!