Last year I moved to the South. I have lived my whole life, until now, in Wisconsin where comfort food during the winter is not a choice, but a necessity! Now I live in the South where comfort food is just a way of life. Definitely a move in the right direction!
It is my intention to post and gather COMFORT FOOD recipes, to share my family's traditions, and to hear all about YOUR family's traditions.
Late Autumn heading into the holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas - what better way to open a blog on COMFORT FOOD?? So.....Without further ado.... here is my first COMFORT FOOD recipe! This recipe is a favorite of most of my family, and I love to make it on a Sunday afternoon. A little high in carbs, but it is so versatile. It can be used as a side dish, the main course, or mix in some vegetables and heat in the oven and enjoy a wonderful meatless meal!
Mom's Homemade Macaroni and Cheese
1 lb. uncooked macaroni
2 T butter or margarine
1/2 onion, chopped
2 T flour
2 - 3 c. milk
1-2 t. garlic powder
1 t. celery salt
2 c. lightly packed grated cheese - anything goes! Don't forget the parmesan! My favorite blend is
1/2 c. parmesan with 1/2 cup white cheese and 1 cup sharp cheddar. :)
Boil large pot of water and add macaroni. Cook according to package directions.
While macaroni is cooking, begin your cheese sauce. Melt butter with onion in a pan. Add the flour and stir/whisk until well blended. Set heat to "medium" and GRADUALLY stir milk into the flour/butter/onion mixture. This will thicken as you go. You want to keep adding milk SLOWLY, keeping it bubbling, until the sauce is the consistency of a thick gravy. At this point you add the seasonings. Next, add all of the cheese, and stir/whisk until cheese is thoroughly melted and the sauce is creamy. If needed, you may add more milk a little at a time. Then simmer VERY slowly while you drain the macaroni. Drain and rinse the macaroni and put back into the pot you cooked it in. Pour cheese sauce over the top, stir and voila! The perfect comfort food! For fun variations, put in casserole dish and sprinkle bread crumbs on top. Bake until bubbly (it won't take long). Add green peppers and some pimiento with the onion for a Southwest taste! Throw in some broccoli or any other vegetable for a quick one dish meal.
Perfect compliments for Mom's Homemade Macaroni and Cheese include (but certainly are not limited to) garlic bread, steamed broccoli with a side salad and hot apple cider! YUM!!!
