Baked Macaroni & Cheese

Recipes for macaroni and cheese are like moms: Almost everybody has one, they're all a little different, and they're almost all pretty great. I don't think I've ever had a bite of macaroni and thought, "Gosh, that's terrible." It's hard to irrevocably mess up pasta and gooey cheese. So I am making no claims that this recipe is the best macaroni in the world, that it will change your life, make you a better person, or get you a girlfriend. But here's what it will do: disappear. Because it is ooey-gooey baked cheesy wonderfulness. And who doesn't want that?

This particular macaroni recipe uses both Velveeta and cheddar cheeses, and a combination of boiling and baking. The secret ingredient? Wait for it - mayonnaise. "Wait, what?" Just give it a shot. The Husband does NOT. LIKE. MAYONNAISE. And he loves this macaroni & cheese. It does not takes like mayo. It just tastes like awesomeness.

Macaroni & Cheese 

Adapted from Great Grandma Esther

Serves: 2-3 (depending how aggressive your macaroni eaters are)

You'll need:

3/4 c uncooked elbow macaroni noodles

2 T mayonnaise (or Miracle Whip)

4 oz Velveeta (regular or low-fat), sliced thickly

1/4 c grated sharp or extra-sharp cheddar cheese

Boil the pasta according to the package directions and drain.

Transfer to a baking dish and stir in the mayo, until all the noodles are lightly coated.

Layer the slices of Velveeta over the noodles.

Microwave for 1 -2 minutes until the Velveeta is hot and starting to melt.

Stir it into the hot noodles. Mmm. I love that gooey, slurpy sound of cheesy pasta being stirred.

Sprinkle your grated cheese over the top.

Fun note: You can start making this early in the day, stop at this point, put the dish in the fridge, and then bake it later on. Whenever it's close to mealtime...

Cover your dish with a glass lid or foil and bake at 325 degrees for about 20-25 minutes, if you just made it, or 30-40 minutes if it was refrigerated. 

You know it's done when the edges just start to turn brown. That is my favorite part. 

When the family finishes dinner, clears their plates, and leaves the kitchen, you can find me scraping those browned bits of cheese up and feasting on them. Ssshh. They think I'm doing the dishes. 

And that's that. Easy cheesy macaroni.

For more fun, try topping it with hot sauce or shredded BBQ chicken.