Baked Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

Ingredients

1. 1 1/2 cups elbow macaroni, shells or cavatappi
2. 3 tablespoons butter or margarine
3. 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
4. 2 cups milk (not skim)
5. 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper
6. 2 cups of shredded cheese (I like sharp cheddar and Swiss)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Bring a pot of water to a boil; add a generous sprinkling of salt the pasta.
3. While the pasta cooks, melt the butter in a skillet or pot large enough to hold the pasta when it's done.
4. Add the flour and stir until the mixture is lightly browned; 1-2 minutes.
5. Add the milk and whisk to remove any lumps and add the salt and pepper.
6. Stir in the cheese and whisk until smooth and melted.
7. When the pasta is almost done but still firm, drain it and add to the sauce.
8. Stir the pasta into the sauce and bake in a greased 2 quart dish (or an 8x8 pan works pretty well) 40-45 minutes until browned and bubbly.

Notes

1. The thinner the dish, the less the bake time. I used a cast iron skillet and mine was done in 25 minutes. A thicker dish like a 2 quart casserole will take 40 minutes.