Growing up in the South, Suppertime was family time. We ate, we talked and we were together as a family. I remember so well one suppertime when both of my grandchildren were visiting. We sat down to eat and my grandson surveyed the table not once, …
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Growing up in the South, Suppertime was family time. We ate, we talked and we were together as a family. I remember so well one suppertime when both of my grandchildren were visiting. We sat down to eat and my grandson surveyed the table not once, not twice, but three times. Then he asked to be excused, grabbed the phone and dialed his other grandfather. I heard him as he said, “I’m hungry and Dee Da has nothing to eat!” I had not cooked mac and cheese. Never again will my supper table be set for my grandson without this dish!
Today, the typical packaged macaroni and cheese is quick and easy, and yes, it’s good. But when given a choice, the homemade stuff is still the best, and there are so many wonderful variations. Even founding father Thomas Jefferson had his favorite style of macaroni and cheese, as did my mother and as do I. Here is my favorite suppertime recipe — I hope you enjoy it as much as my grandson does.
Suppertime Mac and Cheese
Ingredients
Preparation
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Cook macaroni according to directions on package. Drain well; macaroni should be firm and not soft.
Melt ¼ cup butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. When the butter starts to bubble, stir in the flour and cook 3 to 4 minutes. Cook on medium heat until flour just begins to turn pale yellow. Add white pepper and cook for another minute, stirring constantly. Add 1 cup of milk and stir until smooth. Pour in remaining milk and continue to stir. Bring the sauce just to a simmer.
Stir in salt and simmer on medium-low heat until thickened, about 6 to 8 minutes; continue to stir. Turn heat off and add 2 ½ cups of cheese, stir until cheese is melted. Add Dijon mustard (my secret ingredient) and stir.
Pour drained macaroni into a casserole dish, pour in the cheese sauce and stir to combine sauce and macaroni. Mix breadcrumbs and 1 tablespoon melted butter in a small bowl, and sprinkle crumbs on top of macaroni and cheese. Sprinkle remaining ½ cup of cheese on top.
Bake in the preheated oven until breadcrumbs and cheese topping are golden brown, about 20 minutes. Don’t overcook or the macaroni will dry out. Just remember that everything is cooked and at this point — all you want to do is brown the breadcrumb cheese topping and allow the flavors to blend.
Makes 6 servings.
From the scriptures
Almost all books in the Bible contain references to foods. Luke 4:4 says, “It is written, that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.” Reading the Bible will supply you with spiritual food the same way that cooking and consuming food supplies your body with physical food. This recipe references the following scriptures:
