Everyone should have at least one recipe for which they are just a little bit famous, and this is mine! Nothing fancy, just good old-fashioned comfort food at its very best! In my family, mac & cheese is the meal. No side dish for us! And for some goofy reason, we always have to have a big jar of baby dill pickles to go along with it. I have no idea why, but trust me, it works!
1 1/2 cups of uncooked elbow macaroni
1/4 cup butter (1/2 of a quarter-pound stick)
1 small onion, peeled & chopped - about 1/4 c.
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/4 c. flour
1 3/4 cups milk
2 c. shredded cheese (I like to use a blend of jack, cheddar, colby & American but use what you like best)
Cook macaroni in one pot. In another, cook & stir butter, onion, salt & pepper over medium heat until onion is slightly tender. Blend in flour. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth & bubbly; remove from heat. Stir in milk. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute; remove from heat. Stir in cheese until melted.
Drain the macaroni & place in ungreased 1 1/2 quart casserole. Stir cheese sauce into macaroni. Bake uncovered in 375 degree oven for 30 minutes.
I almost always double this recipe - mostly because we ALOT at one time! It also freezes really well. I usually bake it for about 1/2 the normal time then freeze & finish baking when we're ready to have it again.