Macaroni and Cheese
I am so tired of sifting through marketing ploys, and nutritional facts, and studies and diet info and, and, and…are you? It seems that we have been so duped over the last 50 years about what “real, good, food” is, that we can’t tell for ourselves anymore, without all the buzz words and hype from the food marketers…
Here are my best tips:
- If it grows in the ground (or a hydroponic source) it is real, good, food. –fruit and vegetables, beans/legumes and grains
- If it comes from a decently/humanely treated animal it is okay real, good, food. –meat, fish, dairy, eggs
- If it comes in a package–be skeptical, read the label.
- If said label has 10, 15, or more ingredients be skeptical.
- If said label has more ingredients that you can’t pronounce than ingredients you can, you should probably leave the store without it.
- If said label has word choices like “contains real fruit”, “low fat”, “beverage”, or a plethora of other buzz words–be skeptical.
- eat foods that your Great Grandmother would have eaten–can you imagine what she would have thought of “lean cuisine”, or “fruit roll ups”, or “go-gurt”?
It isn’t rocket science to eat well–feel good–and make responsible choices…how come we have been lead to believe that it is?
~there are a million and one ways to make mac and cheese…here is number 1 million and 2
Homemade Mac and Cheese
1/2 900 gram package macaroni –cooked until almost done and drained
1 cup fresh bread crumbs
2 tbsp butter
1/2 cup grated cheese
Cheese Sauce
3 tbsp butter
4 tbsp flour
3 cups milk
3 cups grated cheese (any combo will do, I used old cheddar and marble and parmesan)
2 tsp grainy Dijon mustard
cracked pepper
1/4 tsp nutmeg
Heat butter in a saucepan until foaming. Add flour and cook at least 2 minutes or until just barely turning golden brown. Slowly add milk while whisking constantly. Cook and whisk on medium heat until it starts to thicken (about 5 minutes). Remove from heat and whisk in Dijon, pepper, nutmeg and cheese. Continue to stir until cheese has melted.
In a separate dish, melt 2 tbsp butter and add fresh bread crumbs. Stir to combine well.
In a casserole dish, pour sauce evenly over pasta. Top with buttered bread crumbs and 1/2 cup grated cheese. Bake at 350 about 30 minutes.
