Macaroni Cheese

March 12, 2012 By Sandy

Macaroni Cheese
(Serves 4)

*300g macaroni
50g butter
50g plain white flour
600ml milk
150 – 200g grated strong cheddar (or 150g cheddar and 25g parmesan)
Salt, pepper and nutmeg
1 tsp mustard
1 Tbs chopped parsley (optional)
50g fresh white bread crumbs

* you can use any pasta shape, try twists

Preheat oven to a medium high temperature.
Cook the macaroni as per instructions on pack. Make sure you only put the macaroni in the water when it is boiling.
Melt the butter in a saucepan, gently.
Add the flour and mix well. Cook this gently for 2 – 3 minutes, stirring all the time, you do not want it to colour. This is called a roux.
Gradually add the milk to this mixture. Stir between each addition and bring to a simmer before adding next lot of milk. If the mixture does go lumpy, whisk out the lumps.
Once all milk has been added, remove from heat and add seasoning, mustard, ¾ of the cheddar and parsley. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
Add the cooked pasta and transfer to oven proof dish. Top with remainder of grated cheddar (and bread crumbs if using) and place in the oven for 20 – 30 minutes, until the top is golden.

You can add loads of things to this:

Try mixing 2 Tbs of tomato ketchup when you add the cheese.

Put some sliced tomatoes on top of the macaroni and then finally add the grated cheese.

To the mixture add cooked bacon bits or ham, cooked broccoli or cauliflower florets, fried mushrooms, a tin of tuna, some tinned or frozen sweetcorn, courgettes, peppers ……….

The white sauce you have made for the macaroni cheese can be adapted to make a lasagne. Make the white sauce but do not add the cheese. Using the bolognaise sauce and some ready to use lasagne sheets assemble a lasagne – in an oven proof dish cover the bottom with a generous amount of white sauce, cover with lasagne sheets, pour bolognaise on top of this, layer again with lasagne sheet and cover with white sauce. You can add grated cheese at this stage if you like. Bake in a medium oven for 30 – 40 minutes. Serve with garlic bread – yum!

1 High Street 1 High Street Eynsham 5 seed bread 72% chocolate Abel and Cole afternoon tea ale Allegra McEvedy allotment vegetable growing almond Alsace Alsace Riesling American cup Anthony Worrall Thompson antioxidant antioxidants Anton Mossiman apple apple and blackberry crumble apple and plum custard apple crumble apples apricot apricots arancini Arborio arrabiata artichokes asparagus asparagus and sage tortilla asparagus spears Australian cup autumn menu baby spinach bain marie bake blind baked cauliflower and broccoli cannelloni baked vanilla cheesecake baking baking blind baklava balsamic onions balsamic vinigar Banana banana apricot and walnut loaf banana cake bananas barley basic ingredients basil basmati rice batter bay BBC food bechamel sauce beef beef and olive meatballs beef Bourgiginone Beef Bourguignon beef brisket beef burgers beef dishes beef lasagne beef massamam curry beef mushroom and ale pie beef shin beef shin osso bucco beef tagine beef Wellington beet leaves beetroot beetroot and bramley apple soup beetroot and goats cheese risotto beetroot and goats cheese salad beetroot and horseradish soup beetroot cake beetroot horseradish and Swiss chard soup beetroot juniper and orange cake beetroot soup belly pork berries Big Bang bird blackberry cheesecake black pepper boiled fruit cake bolognaise bolognese sauce Bonners borage flowers borage leaves Boston baked beans braised red cabbage brandy brass bread bread and butter pudding bread crumbs bread sauce brioche bread and butter pudding British cup broad bean broad bean and mint soup broad bean pea and mint risotto broad bean pea and mint soup broad beans broccoli brownies bruschetta buffets bulgar bullace butter butter bean and smoked bacon soup butterbean leek potato and goats cheese bake butternut sqash and sage risotto butternut squash butternut squash and chickpea tagine butternut squash coconut and lemon grass soup butternut squash spinach and chick pea tagine butternut squash sweet potato and coconut soup butternut squash Swiss chard and ricotta lasagna butters cabbage caldecott canapés cannelloni caper caramelised onion caramelised onion quiche caraway caraway cabbage caraway seeds cardomom and chocolate meringue cardomon cardomon meringues Carnaroli carnival carpaccio of beef car parking carrot carrot and ginger soup carrot ginger and orange soup carrot red lentil and coriander soup cartouche casserole cassoulet Castle Rock Brewery cauliflower cauliflower and celeriac soup celeriac celery celery seed Certo change of use cheap cuts cheddar cheese cheeses cheese scones cheese straw cheese straws cherry shrotbread cherry tomato cherry tomatoes chervil chestnut chestnut bourguignon chestnut cranberry and bacon stuffing chestnut mushroom spinach and goats cheese strudel chewy flapjack chicken chicken and asparagus pie chicken and ham hand raised pie chicken and leek pie chicken and leek soup chicken and mushroom chicken bacon and mushroom pie chicken basque chicken breasts chicken cider and mushroom casserole chicken dishes chicken ham and mushroom pie chicken legs chicken liver chicken liver pate chicken liver ravioli chicken livers chicken mushroom and bacon casserole chicken orange and pomegranate tagine chicken pie chicken pie and more.... chicken preserved lemon and olive tagine chicken Provençal chicken rendang chicken smoked ham and leek pie chicken stock chicken sweetcorn and coconut soup chicken tagine chicken tarragon chicken thighs chick pea and tomato soup chili chilli chive flowers chocolate chocolate biscuit cake chocolate bread and butter pudding chocolate brioche bread and butter pudding chocolate brownie chocolate buttons chocolate fondue chocolate krantz cake chocolate mousse chocolate pecan brownie chocolate pudding chocolate tart chocolate torte chopped fresh herbs chorizo and butterbean soup chorzo and butter bean soup choux buns choux pastry Christmas Christmas cake Christmas cooking Christmas cooking classes Christmas cooking list Christmas food gifts Christmas gifts christmas pudding chuck chutney cinnamon cinnamon and apple loaf citrus fruits citrus sorbet clams classic bread and butter pudding Claudia Roden clotted cream cloves cocoa coconut coconut flapjack coconut milk coconut milk and pandan leaf rice pudding coffee coffee and hazelnut cake conversions cookies cooking class cooking classes cooking clinic cool drinks coq au vin coq au vin. lamb and apricot pie coriander Cornucopia Cornucopia Cooks cornucopia cooks car parking Cornucopia Cooks dining club coronation chicken cottage pie courgette courgette flowers courgette lemon and thyme soup courgettes couscous cranberry and orange sauce cranberry and red onion relish Cranks cream cream of asparagus soup cream of mushroom sauce creme caramel creme fraiche crispy croquembouche crostini crumble crunchy flapjack cucumber cumber cumin currants curried parsnip soup cut waste damson Dan Lepard dark chocolate dark chocolate sauce dates dauphinoise dauphinoise potatoes dauphinoise potatotes deglaze delia delia smith deli boards deli boards; cheese Delicious magazine delicious nibbles Delicious stew and dumplings deli plates demonstration of pasta deseeding tomatoes Diane Henry dill dining club dinner dinner parties dinner parties and menu planning discount doits de Savoie dried herbs dry sherry duck duck and pork terrine duck confit duck fat ea Earl Grey tea Easter easy night in egg pasta eggs Emporium English cheese board enhance flavour environmental enrichment Eton mess Eynsam Eynsham Eynsham carnival Eynsham Cellars Eynsham Easy Night In eynsham folk weekend Eynsham honey Eynsham wine bar Eynsham Wine Cellars family dinner suggestions fat free cake Felicity Cloake Fellicity Cloake feminism fennel fennel seeds fermented foods fermenting feta fibres fig fillet filleting filo pastry fish cookery fish cookery course fish dishes fishing fishing season fish pie fish sauce fish soup fish stew fish stock flapjack fleur de sel de Guerande florentines fluffing fluted cutter food hygiene food labels food miles food storage foraging frangipane free range free range chicken French baking French cheeseboard friends friends for dinner frozen raspberries frozen ready meals fruit and wine jelly fruit butter fruit compote fruit puree fruit scones funghi risotto game casserole game casserole and dumplings ganache garlic garlic bread garlic ciabatta gelling agent genetically modified eggs gifts ginger ginger bread ginger bread Christmas trees ginger flapjack ginger pudding gluten goats cheese golden delicious gooseberry gooseberry and elderflower syllabub gooseberry and rhubarb crumble gooseberry strudel goose fat Gordon Ramsay goujons grains gravy greaseproof Greek yoghurt green and blacks green and blacks cooks chocolate green papaya green peppercorn mustard green peppercorns green tomatoes grilling ground allspice ground cummin gruyere cheese Guardian gutting haggis Hairy Bikers halloumi ham hand raised pie Hannah Glasse haricot beans harrisa Hazel Faithful hazelnut hazelnuts healthy heart Helen Peacocke herbivore herbivore dining club herbs Heston Blumenthal honey honey cake honey roast ham horseradish hot cross bun Hot cross bun bread and butter pudding! hot cross buns hot water crust pastry Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall hummus humus ice ice cubes iced tea icing cakes imperial iplayer isced coffee Italian Italian meat balls jam James Martin Jamie Oliver jam making jams Jane Grigson jars jazzy folk jellies jelly Jubilee menu juniper juniper berries Kaffir lime leaves Kate Kate and Will's wedding breakfast kefir Kiss me Kate krantz cake lamb lamb and apricot pie lamb and butternut squash pie lamb apricot and date tagine lamb baked with tomato and pesto lamb casserole lamb dishes lamb filos lamb hot pot lamb lolllipops lamb meatballs lamb shanks lamb tagine lasagna lasagne laxton leaves Lebanese lamb meatballs Lebanese style rice leek and potato pie leek and potato soup leek potato and bacon soup leftover leftovers Leiths lemon lemon drizzle cake lemon grass lemon juice lemons lemon tart lemon zest lentil and roasted root vegetable casserole lentil celeriac and hazelnut ragout Leon lettuce lime limes Linda McCartney lining cake tin Loison Lorraine Pascale lovage leaves lovage stalks lunch luxury cauliflower macaroni cheese luxury macaroni and cauliflower cheese luxury sausage rills luxury sausage roll luxury sausage rolls macaroni cauliflower cheese macaroni cheese macaroons main courses mains malaysian cooking Malden salt mango marinated onions Market Garden marmalade Marsala Mary Berry mascarpone mascarpone icing mash mashed potato Mcvities meat meatballs meat balls meatballs in a rich tomato sauce meatballs stuffed with pine-nuts meat cookery meat loaf meatloaf mechoui lamb mediterranean fish stew Melanzane parmigiana melting chocolate membrillo meringue meringue pie meringues metric Meursault Burgandy mezze Michael Pollen milk Millwood Market Gardens mince mince and vegetable pie minced beef mince pies minerals mint mint tea mirabelle mixed mushroom and Cognac ragout mojito Moro Moroccan cooking Moroccan lamb meatballs in a harissa tomato sauce Moroccan mint tea mothers day mourssaka moussaka mousse muscles mushroom mushroom and barley mushroom and goats cheese mushroom and goats cheese gratin mushroom and goats cheese quiche mushroom and roquefort soup mushroom casserole mushroom duxelle mushrooms mushroom spinach and goats cheese strudel mussel mussels mustard mustard powder nasturtium leaves neck of lamb nectarines nettle nettles new potatoes nibbles Nigel Slater nut log nutmeg nut roast olive olive dill and caper salsa olive oil olives omega 3 omega6 omega9 onion orange orange and juniper meringue pie orange juice oranges orange zest oregano osso buco oven temperatures Oxfordshire ales Oxford Times oxtail pancetta pandana leaf pandan leaf panettone panettone bread and butter pudding panettones Panettones to order pan fried chicken breast parchment paper Parma ham Parmesan parsley parsley mash parsnip parsnip and apple soup parsnip and potato mash parsnip celery and apple soup party events pasta pasta bake pasta making pasta sauce pasta sauces pastry pastry course pastry making pate pates pea pea and ham pea and ham soup pea and lettuce soup pea and mint soup peaches pear pear and ginger pudding pear frangipane pears baked in Marsala peas pecorino pectin peeling peeling tomatoes pepper pesto Petrus Pomeral pheasant dishes pheasant juniper and chestnut pie pickle pickled dills pickling spice pickling spice blend pie Pieminister pigeon pile it high rhubarb and orange meringue pie pine-nut crumble pine-nuts pippen pistachio pistachio and rosewater meringues pith plain cutter plain flour planning plum plum and apple strudel plum chutney plum crumble plum jam plum jelly plums plum sauce plum tort plum torte poached pear poached pears poachers poachers dinner poaching pocket handkerchief jazz orchestra pomegranate pomegranate and orange couscous pomegranate seeds poppy seed and polenta cake poppy seed cake poppy seed pasta poppy seeds pop up pop up wine bar pork pork and dried plum pork apple and cider pie pork armangac and dried plum pie pork cider and apple pie pork cider and caramelised apple pie pork dishes pork dried plum and Armangac potato bacon and chive soup potatoes potted crab and crayfish poultry preparing asparagus preparing for uni preserve preserved lemon preserved lemon couscous preserves Prince Harry's bacon butty private dining prosciutto prosecco pudding puddings puff pastry pulses puree puy lentil and mushroom lasagne puy lentil and mushroom ragout puy lentil and Swiss chard soup puy lentil and vegetable ragout puy lentil ragout puy lentils puy lentils and Italian sausages puy lentil smoked ham and spinach soup Queens Head quiche quiches quinoa rabbit cacciatore raclette radio 4 radish ragu ramson flowers ramsons rape seed oil rapeseed oil raspberry raspberry and apple crumble raspberry and white chocolate pot raspberry frangipane ravioli Readers Digest ready meal ready meals reblachon Recipes red cabbage red cabbage and apple redcurrants red onion beef and barley soup red onion relish red onions red peppercorns reheating relax rhubarb rhubarb and ginger rhubarb and ginger crumble rhubarb crumble rhubarb custard crunch rhubarb ginger meringue pie rice rice pudding ricotta Riesling ripe tomatoes risotto risotto rice roast roast chicken roast chicken with lemon and garlic roasted cherry tomato roasted new potatoes roasted nuts roasted ratatouille and buckwheat pancakes roasted red pepper and tomato soup roasted root vegetable and barley soup roasted summer vegetable and ricotta pie roasted summer vegetable strudel roast potatoes roasts rocket roly poly root vegetables Rose Elliot rosemary rosewater rosewater and pistachio meringue rosti rough puff pastry roux Royal Wedding rum saffron sage salad salad dressing salads salami Sally Moyes salmon and spinach filo parcel salmon en croute salmon spinach and ricotta filo pie salsa salt Sami Tamimi samphire sand cake Sandy Sarah Brown sausage and cranberry plait sausage roll sausage rolls savoy cabbage scaling scone recipe scones sea salt seasonal seasonal cooking seasonal vegetables settign point setting point Seville seville marmalade Seville orange seville oranges Sevilles Shaken Oak shallots shepherds pie sherry shin shopping on a budget shortcrust shortcrust pastry Siemens skirt Slow cooked fragrant spare ribs slow roast slow roasted belly pork smoked haddock smoked ham smoked mackerel smoked mackerel pate smoked salmon smoke point sorbet sorrel sorrel and nettle soup soup soups sour dough hotel spice buns spiced loaf spiced red cabbage spices spicy tomato and basil soup spinach spinach and puy lentil lasagne spinach and ricotta filo spinach ricotta and hazelnut filos sponge fingers spring onion and vegetable casserole spring onions spring onion spinach and feta filo parcel spring onion thinnings squid star anise starters steak and kidney steak and kidney pie stew stew and dumplings stewed plums stewed rhubarb sticky ginger sticky ginger cake sticky ginger pudding sticky pear and ginger pie sticky pear and ginger pudding stilton stilton and celery seed cheese straws stir fried squid store cupboard essentials store cupboard items students stuffed peppers stuffing stuffings summer pudding sum tum sun-dried tomato sundried tomate and basil soup sundried tomatoes sundried tomato tomato and basil soup supermarket ready meal sutton hoo sweet pastry sweet potato sweet potato feta and hazelnut filo parcel sweet wine Szechuan pepper tagine tagines tahini tangerines tapenade tarragon tart citron tarteflette tartiflette tartlets tart tatin teacher team building tea party teas teflon terrine Thai Thai chicken Thai chicken soup Thai cooking Thai dishes Thai menu Thai sticky rice Thai vegetable curry Throne Room thyme tiramisu tomaotes tomato tomato and basil soup tomato chutney tomatoes tomato ketchup tomato sauce tortilla Toulouse sausage truly free range Twinnings Ukranian Union Jack Upper Norton Jersey Farm use by dates vacuum flask valentines day Valentines day afternoon tea. Can you miss this great event? Valentines day tea vegan balls vegan pie vegetable and barley soup vegetable bake vegetarian vegetarian cookery vegetarian dishes venison venison casserole venison casserole or pie vermicelli rice Victoria vin santo vitamins Waitrose walnut waste water watercress watercress sorrel and spinach soup wedding cake wheat free white cabbage white chocolate and cardamon pot white pepper white wine white wine vinigar whole spices why cooking matters wild garlic wild rice Will wine bar wine bar Eynsham wine list wines by the bottle Worcester Yoga Yorkshire pudding Yotam Ottolenghi young nettles young sorrel zest zesting