Hi Again, Home made Mac and Cheese

Hi there sorry it has been so long since I have posted I have had a very tough term in school. So much reading and so little time for this mama. Something I have been making a lot of lately is homemade mac and cheese my boys absolutely love it and it is so easy to do. I know the idea of homemade mac and cheese sounds like a handful but it really is quite easy once you know what you are doing. It is also something you can make ahead and bake later which is awesome for busy nights... or exam time in our case.

Ingredients
For the mac and cheese:

• 8 oz of macaroni noodles (really any style noodles will work) or 3 3/4cups of noodles
• 2 tbsp of margarine or butter
• 1 small onion chopped up finely
• 1 tbsp of flour 
• salt, pepper and paprika to taste (I usually use half a tsp of each personally)
• 1 1/2 cups milk 
• 2 cups shredded or grated cheese

For baking

• 3/4 cups of bread crumbs
• 2 tbsp butter or margarine melted 
• 1/4 tsp paprika

This will make enough for 6 servings.

If you are baking this right away preheat your oven to 350 degrees and grease a 2 quart casserole dish (you can grease the dish however you prefer I usually use vegetable oil or butter).

Bring some water to a boil in a large pot. When the water is boiling pour in your noodles, carefully so you do not get splashed by the boiling water. You want to cook your noodles until they are just cooked, they will still be firm and not mushy. Drain your noodles and put them into your casserole dish.

Melt your butter in either the pot you just used to cook your noodles or in a sauce pan whichever you prefer. stir in your onions (this will take about 5 minutes maybe less depending on the temperature of your burner). Add your milk, flour, salt, pepper and paprika, stir well. You will cook this mixture until it starts to thicken, you will want to stir often or it will stick to the pot.

Once thickened take the pot (or saucepan) off of the heat and  stir in your cheese until melted. Pour this into your noodles and stir.

Melt your butter for baking and mix in the bread crumbs and paprika. You will then sprinkle this over your noodles. If you are going to bake this right away put it in the oven, otherwise cover and cool until you are ready to bake.

Bake the mac and cheese until the top is golden brown and bubbly. This is about 20 minutes if you are doing it right away but longer obviously if it has been cooled or frozen. Do not worry if your bake time varies, every oven is completely different.

Please take care to wear the appropriate "equipment" when working with hot dishes and enjoy your meal.