Fannie Farmer's Classic Baked Macaroni & Cheese

Ingredients

  • 1 (8 ounce) package macaroni
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 4 tablespoons flour
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 cup cream
  • 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
  • fresh ground black pepper, to taste
  • 2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded good quality
  • 1⁄2 cup breadcrumbs, buttered

Instructions

1 _ Preheat oven to 400°F.

2 _ Cook and drain macaroni according to package directions; set aside.

3 _ In a large saucepan melt butter.

4 _ Add flour mixed with salt and pepper, using a whisk to stir until well blended.

5 _ Pour milk and cream in gradually; stirring constantly.

6 _ Bring to boiling point and boil 2 minutes (stirring constantly).

7 _ Reduce heat and cook (stirring constantly) 10 minutes.

8 _ Add shredded cheddar little by little and simmer an additional 5 minutes, or until cheese melts.

9 _ Turn off flame.

11 _ Add macaroni to the saucepan and toss to coat with the cheese sauce.

12 _ Transfer macaroni to a buttered baking dish.

13 _ Sprinkle with breadcrumbs.

14 _ Bake 20 minutes until the top is golden brown.


15 _ (You can also freeze this recipe in zip-lock bags for later use - once you have mixed the macaroni along with the cheese sauce allow to cool to room temperature before adding to your freezer - I generally pull it out the night before and allow macaroni and cheese to reach room temperature; I then add the macaroni and cheese to a buttered baking dish, sprinkle with bread crumbs and then bake for 20 to 30 minutes, until golden brown on top and bubbling.

Comments