Learn to Cook: Mac and Cheese
4

Serves 6

Jump right into this super simple method for making everybody's favorite comfort food, using just milk, flour, cheese and macaroni.

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    Ingredients: 
    • 1 pound whole wheat or regular elbow macaroni
    • 3 cups milk
    • 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
    • 1/2 pound grated cheddar cheese, about 2 cups
    • 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
    • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
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    Method: 

    Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain pasta well.

    While macaroni cooks, whisk together milk and flour in a medium pot. Bring milk mixture just to a boil over medium heat, stirring often. It should be about the consistency of heavy whipping cream, so reduce the heat and gently simmer for a minute or so, stirring often, if it needs more time to thicken.

    Remove pot from the heat and gently stir in grated cheddar, one handful at a time, until the sauce is smooth. Stir in salt and black pepper.

    Add pasta, sitr well and serve. 

    Transform this creamy dish into a baked favorite by transferring finished mac and cheese to an oiled baking dish, top with breadcrumbs and more grated cheese, and bake at 350°F until melted and golden.

    Consider stirring in different veggies, cheeses or meats to oomph up the nutrition and make this dish grand. Here are some of our favorites:

    Thinly sliced kale, spinach or Swiss chard
    Steamed broccoli florets
    Diced heirloom tomatoes
    Small pieces of goat milk Brie
    Blue cheese crumbles
    Chopped smoked salmon
    Cooked crab cakes, broken into pieces
    Diced cooked meatballs
    Shredded barbeque or rotisserie chicken
    Frozen vegetable blends

    Nutritional Info: 
    Per Serving:500 calories (140 from fat), 16g total fat, 10g saturated fat, 50mg cholesterol, 490mg sodium, 69g carbohydrate (7g dietary fiber, 6g sugar), 25g protein
    Special Diets: 

    Note: We've provided special diet and nutritional information for educational purposes. But remember — we're cooks, not doctors! You should follow the advice of your health-care provider. And since product formulations change, check product labels for the most recent ingredient information. See our Terms of Service.

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