Real Macaroni Cheese

This is a great veggie dinner, which is great for a cold winter night or any other time. The stuff you buy in packages, is not quite the same as this! This can be made with one cheese or many cheeses. The pasta bit is easy the sauce is the problem, and the reason why lots of people just buy the ready made packaged stuff. But you can do it. The Sauce is really just cheese and milk, but thickened with flour and oil (or butter).

What you need
Saucepan for pasta
Saucepan for sauce.
Dish that can go in the oven.
Macaroni or your favourite short pasta. A good handful per person.
Cheese 300g
Milk (1/2 Pint)
Flour
Butter or oil (olive is good)
Seasoning (salt / pepper etc)
Cayenne or Paprika is you wish.

What you need to do:
You need to cook the pasta to al dente (see Spaghetti al carbonara). You can do this in advance. (If the pasta has stuck together, just pour some water over it to loosen it).
Grate the cheese so that you have a large pile of cheese.
Preheat your oven to 150 C or 300 F
In a Saucepan melt a Tablespoon of butter and then stir in a table spoon of flour, over a low heat on the stove. Stir in the flour until you have a good consistent goo!
Now add the milk slowly to the mixture stirring with a whisk. Once the goo has disolved, add the rest of the milk and stir, add a tablespoon of the grated cheese at a time until dissolved. Leave a tablespoon or more back for the top of the dish at end. The sauce will start to thicken as it heats up, it is best not to let it boil for too long and if it boils turn the heat down. (if you have a slow top - take the pan off the heat to let it cool quicker and then return it to the top).

Season your sauce to taste. Once your sauce is nice and thick and not lumpy, pour in the cooked pasta and stir them together. Pour the pasta mixture into the oven safe dish. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top and if you want, a bit of Paprika or cayenne pepper.

Bake for 20 minutes and then eat.

To add more flavour, add some chopped garlic, as you make the goo, or finely chopped shallots or onion.

This can also be made with bacon bits as well. pre cook them and add them when the sauce is cooked.

Serve it as meal on its own, or with a salad. Or if your feeling bold as the starter.