Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Frugal Food Thursday: Mom's Mac and Cheese

mac and cheese
Welcome to Frugal Food Thursday!  If you have a great frugal recipe, please link up below! 

This week, I thought I'd share my mom's recipe for macaroni and cheese.

A few years ago, my mom gathered all the recipes that she's collected over the years - from her mother, from family and friends, and from magazines and cookbooks - typed them up, and put the pages into binders with page protectors.  She gave a copy each to my sister, to my sister-in-law, and to me.  It is a prized possession.

I've since stuffed printouts of my favorite recipes into the pockets of the binder, and one of these days I'll have to arrange them properly and add my pages to her cookbook, to be passed down to my daughters.

Anyway, she never made macaroni and cheese from a box when I was growing up - we always had this dish.  Of course, the boxed stuff is cheaper, but a lot less healthful.  More recently, she replaces the original white noodles with either whole wheat noodles or brown rice noodles, which makes it even more healthful.  I do that, too.

And I usually add a bit of cream cheese to the cheese sauce to make it even more creamy.  That makes it less healthful.  And maybe a dash of hot sauce or dry mustard.  And extra-sharp Cheddar instead of the American.   Mmmm... getting so hungry...

But here is her original recipe.  Enjoy!

MOM'S MAC AND CHEESE

2 cups elbow macaroni
3 tbsp butter
2 tbsp flour
1/2 tsp salt
Dash of pepper
1-1/2 cups milk
8 oz (2 cups) American or mild Cheddar cheese, shredded or cubed
Tomato slices (optional)

Cook elbow macaroni in boiling, salted water till tender; drain.  Meanwhile, in saucepan, melt butter; blend in flour, salt, and pepper.  Add milk; cook and stir till thickened and bubbly.  Mix cheese sauce with cooked macaroni.  Turn into a 1-1/2 quart casserole.  If using, place tomato slices on top.  Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes.

There are lots more cheap recipes posted here at Frugal FolliesClick here for the list!

Got a great frugal recipe?  Link below to your actual post, not your main page.  Please only link up recipes and other food-related posts; contest entries and other posts are not allowed and will be deleted. I'd appreciate it if you would link back to Frugal Food Thursday as well!  Also, if you have a list of food-related linkups on your blog, I'd appreciate it if you would add Frugal Food Thursday to your list.



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13 comments:

Desi July 14, 2011 at 5:13 PM  

Nice roundup you've got there! And I'm always on the lookout for different mac and cheese recipes. I'll have to try this one! Mom's recipes are the best :) I wanted to invite you over to my cookbook giveaway that is going on right now until July 16th. Stop on by to enter! Hope you are having a great week :)

http://steaknpotatoeskindagurl.blogspot.com/2011/07/my-first-giveaway.html

Debbi Does Dinner Healthy July 15, 2011 at 7:29 PM  

Excellent recipe! I love a good mac and cheese created by Mom! I am hosting Presto Pasta Nights this week if you would like to enter this and I will include it in the round up at the end of the week. Details on my blog or here, thanks! http://www.prestopastanights.com/

Miz Helen July 16, 2011 at 2:04 PM  

Thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and hope to see you next week. Have a great week end!
Miz Helen

Heather S-G July 17, 2011 at 9:57 AM  

This sounds great...I love the thought of adding a bit of cream cheese for extra creaminess!

cheerful July 17, 2011 at 1:12 PM  

we love mac and cheese...thanks for sharing your recipe! visiting from FTF, have a great week. :)

annies home July 18, 2011 at 2:36 PM  

we just made mac n cheese with tuna that is a favo of mine cant wait to try your recipe visit me at http://shopannies.blogspot.com

Swathi July 19, 2011 at 11:14 PM  

Without mac and cheese some time cooking wont be complete. Love this. Thanks for sharing with hearth and soul hop.

Turning the Clock Back July 21, 2011 at 6:34 AM  

we LOVE mac and cheese at my house!

thanks for linking up to What's Cooking Wednesday!

Diane

April @ The 21st Century Housewife July 22, 2011 at 5:35 AM  

Lovely recipe! Really warming and comforting. I love the idea of the recipe books. I'm currently going through all my old family recipes and hope to compile something similar. It's so much fun remembering all the happy memories of dishes from days gone by, and making them once again. Thank you for sharing this post with the Hearth and Soul Blog Hop.

Unknown July 23, 2011 at 1:39 PM  

i just really cannot get enough mac and cheese in my diet! thank you for sharing this great recipe with tuesday night supper club!

Anonymous,  July 26, 2011 at 12:58 PM  

yummy mac and cheese! :) better than the ready made mix!

Oh, btw, I'd like to invite you to join Weekday Potluck Meme and link up your food entries for the week! :)

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