Ingredients for

Easy Mac and Cheese

8 ounces elbow mac, uncooked                                       

2 tablespoons butter, melted

2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

1.5 cups of milk

3 cups grated extra sharp cheddar cheese

1 teaspoon of salt

Pepper to taste

1 stick of melted butter

Pam Cooking Spray



Directions For

Easy Mac and Cheese

Start with two cups of mac noodles - this can be made with either elbow mac or even penne pasta. Boil the pasta 7 minutes. Pasta should be soft at this moment. Drain the pasta but don’t rinse.

Preheat oven 375 degrees. Heat olive oil in a large skillet on medium heat. Add mushrooms and cook until they lose most of their liquid and are reduced by half in size.

Pour entire mixture into baking dish. In a small bowl, combine bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle on top of the mac. Bake for about 30 minutes, or until hot in the center. Serve warm.

Add sauteed vegetables, tomatoes, cheese and mac, mixing well. If you are using leftover

mac and cheese, reduce shredded cheese by 1/4 cup and sprinkle on top before baking.

Once pasta is finished, drain and return to pot. Pour entire mixture into baking dish. In a small bowl, combine bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle on top of the mac. Bake for about 30 minutes, or until hot in the center. Serve warm.

In a large saucepan, combine sugar, cocoa, butter and evaporated milk. Cook the mixture over low heat until the butter melts. Increase heat to medium and bring to a boil while stirring. Boil for 2 minutes and remove from the heat and stir in the beaten eggs. Return to heat and stir in the vanilla, coconut, nuts and vanilla wafers or graham crackers. Pour mixture into a well buttered 9x13-inch baking pan. Make frosting by combining all of the frosting ingredients together. Frost immediately. Cool completely before cutting into bars.

Although this recipe is a little more time consuming to prepare than more traditional 

mac and cheese

dishes, My mother usually makes the mac ahead of time and turns the crockpot on on Christmas Day while preparing the rest of the meal. Substitutions can be made, such as whole wheat pasta, reduced fat cheese, margirine, etc. however, I prefer to prepare the mac per the recipe, and let it be my guilty pleasure. Try this easy mac and cheese to highlight any meal.