Mac ‘n’ Cheese or Macaroni Cheese, as us Brits say it; is definitively on my top ten list of comfort food.  When I lived with my parents I would ask my big sister to make it for us. I loved how she would not only make it creamy inside and crispy on the out side, but especially when she added broccoli and cauliflower mmmm … Once I moved to Paris I would have one of those “I miss my family” moments and recall myself, little sister and nephews rushing to the dinning table as we hear Mama telling us that big sister is bring the dish out and to come before it gets cold.  Who likes cold mac ‘n’ cheese anyway ? After a few Whatsapp and FaceTime calls to big sis I realised how incredibly easy this dish is to make. With a grin I began cooking it and expecting my family to love it as we did back in London. My expectations where half met. Remember you read that my Parisian husband doesn’t eat cheese , yes very odd ! Big Monkey hates vegetables with it so he prefers it on its own, and little monkey gobbles it up as long as the macaroni is cut into tiny pieces. We are getting there !  But sometimes you do really need to feed yourself the things that makes you smile, even if it is at the cost of unhappy faces at the dinning table.  Look, it doesn’t happen often, but when it does it’s a good day for me !

 

Ingredients 

25g Butter

2 Tablespoons of white flour

2 Cups milk

2 Cups of shredded cheddar cheese

Seasoning

3 Cups of macaroni pasta ( feel free to use any other kind, try wholewheat)

 

Method

Step 1. Turn oven to 180C. Boil pasta as instructed on packet.

Step 2. Drain pasta once cooked and place in a oven proof dish.

Step 3. Melt butter in a pan on medium heat and add flour. Mix well until it resembles a soft dough  ( this is called ROUX. It is when fat and flour are mixed well to use a sticking agent in sauces.) Slowly add half of the milk and whisk fast. Add half of the grated cheese and whisk. Keep adding etc milk and cheese till you have a creamy sauce. If you like it slightly runny add slightly more milk.

Step4. Add the cheese sauce to the pasta and mix well.  Sprinkle some more grated cheddar cheese on top.You can as crazy with the cheese as you want.  Place in the oven and removed once you see the golden crispy top, serve hot.

NOTE: you can add boiled broccoli , carrots and even cauliflower to the mix.