Taryn's Macaroni Cheese

My kids absolutely love Macaroni Cheese and we serve it a complete dish and not as a side dish.  This recipe developed over time, with some Southern inspiration and we vary it a little every now and then.  The variations are often dependent on the budgetary constraints, but its a meal that is not too pricey and honestly, if my 14 year old son can cook this, then ANYONE can cook it.

 

The reason I call this 'Taryn's Macaroni Cheese' is due to the fact that she took over making this dish and added the herbs to the cheese sauce which gave it a whole new taste. 

 

What to do and what you need

 

Turn oven on to temp 180 Degree Celcius

 

500g macaroni - cooked according to direction

Place cooked macaroni in a greased casserole dish

 

1 packet bacon (back, shoulder, streak - fried and chopped (you can use 'Bits o' Bacon too which is a great time saver)

1 to 1/2 cups of grated cheddar cheese for topping

 

700ml milk

2tbs flour

2tbs margarine or butter

1 tsp salt

1 tsp cracked black pepper

1 cup grated cheddar cheese

1tsp mixed herbs

dash of mustard powder or a 1/4 tsp mustard

 

To make the cheese sauce - except for the cheese, add all the ingredients to sauce pan and stir in the figure eight with a whisk until the sauce thickens.  This sauces takes a good few minutes but is rather therapeutic.  Remember to stir the bottom of the saucepan so that the sauce does not stick to the pan.  Once the sauce has thickened - add the cheese and turn off the heat and stir until the cheese has melted.

 

Now pour the sauce over the macaroni in the casserole dish.  Make sure that you get all the macaroni covered with the sauce.

 

Wipe the sides of the casserole dish with a napkin or kitchen towel to keep it neat.

 

Sprinkle the cheese evenly over the top of the macaroni followed by the bacon.

 

We have added of the following, but its up to you what you like and what's on hand
 

          :   Roasted onion (this is a firm favourite in our house and you can buy it at Woolies)

          :   Chopped pepperdew

          :   Gently fried mushrooms

          :   Another variation is to use half mozzarella cheese in the recipe, it gives it a really great taste.

 

Bake for 20 minutes or until cheese is bubbling - be careful not to burn the bacon.

 

Slice and serve with salad or garlic bread and enjoy.