Mac and cheese

I have a three year old who could live off of Kraft Mac and Cheese.  A while back, I stumbled across a blog called 100 days of real food (http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/).  It's main purpose: to challenge people to remove processed, unhealthy food from their diets.  While I didn't jump in 100%, we did take some pointers and make some changes.  One of them was my son's beloved mac and cheese.  And you know what?  We can't stand the boxed stuff any more!!!!  This recipe is just as fast, just as easy, but it's real food!!  No powdered cheese for us.  (I even get block cheese and grate it fresh each time we make it.)

Here's the recipe:

• 1 – 1 ½ cups of dried whole-wheat macaroni noodles, boiled according to package directions
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons whole-wheat flour
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup grated cheese (you can use any type of cheese…we usually use sharp cheddar or a mix of different cheeses works well too)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Optional topping: grated parmesan cheese or whole-wheat breadcrumbs

Directions

1. Melt the butter in a sauté pan over medium heat.
2. Whisk in the flour and keep whisking for about 1 – 2 minutes until the roux (which is equal parts flour and butter or oil) starts to darken, but does not burn.
3. Turn the heat down to low and quickly whisk in the milk. Turn the heat back up to medium and keep whisking until the mixture starts to thicken and all lumps of flour are dissolved.
4. Stir in the grated cheese and once it melts mix in the cooked noodles. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Serve immediately and enjoy!

I make minor changes:  I normally do about 2 cups of noodles, we don't use whole wheat flour and I don't do the grated cheese or breadcrumbs on top.  (We aren't that fancy around here!!)  I've also found that the longer you head the flour/butter/milk mixture, the creamier it is.

We make this many times per week for lunch, and even threw it in for supper tonight, as it was a rush night with dance starting at 6.  It is definitely a family favorite, all 5 of us (6 with cousin Hannah eating tonight) cleaned our plates and a few went back for more.