Baked Macaroni and Cheese – Cook With Haley

Casale Monferrato The past few months have proven to be a Six Flags Texas Cyclone Style rollercoaster of emotion for me and my people. From getting engaged, to leaving a job, to starting a new part time gig, to  losing a loved one, to a stop-me-in-my-tracks illness (I’m better now) I have literally run the gamut of emotions. I have felt ALL the feels!

http://cathedral-lonavala.org/affi_ban/

Mise en place

Now that we’ve survived May and are solidly planted in June I’m finally able to take a few deep breaths and look around, a bit bleary eyed, but grateful to see life anew.

Breadcrum, parsley, butter mixture is called a persillade (“per-si-yod”).

In the past these kind of whip lash inducing events would have been too much for me to handle. I won’t try to pretend I didn’t have my fair share of gnarly sobbing attacks during which I wished for a warm hug from my mother only to remember she is about 300 miles away and I’m an almost-30-year-old adult.

White roux, y’all.

Guys, I don’t know if y’all know this, adulting is hard. Making decisions, sometimes life changing decisions, is hard. Saying goodbye forever is very hard even when it’s on the best terms; sometimes because it’s on the best terms.

Bechamel is one of the 5 Mother Sauces.

In the midst of the chaos, when I needed that warm hug most, I decided to make this classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese.

Change the name to Mornay Sauce when you add cheese.

This recipe is not fancy or frilly. It is stable, consistent, unchanging. It is solid, like a protective, loving hand resting firmly between my shoulder blades reminding me it’s there, always fearless, even when I’m not.

Saucy!

Soft pasta and creamy, velvety cheese sauce give way to crunchy bursts of breadcrumb and browned cheese bits that explode between your teeth like biting into a savory Pop Rock.

Pour it in.

For me, this macaroni and cheese is a warm hug from my mother. It’s bound to melt your heart if you need one too.

Enjoy

Serve it up.

Prep Time: 30 minutes Cook Time: 20-25 minutes

Serves: 4-6