Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Easy Baked Macaroni and Cheese - Vintage Recipe

I have always loved macaroni and cheese.  It is one of my favorite foods.  Lately, I've been making a vintage version from a recipe card I found in my Granny Besse's recipe collection.  It's from 1973, McCall.  It's a creamy, cheesy version.  Because there's nothing more disappointing than macaroni and cheese that is dry - or that has no flavor. 

Ingredients:
8 oz. elbow macaroni
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
2 cups milk (I have used skim, and it turns out fine)
2 cups cheddar cheese, grated
1 large tomato, thickly sliced (I left this out, since tomatoes are not in season right now)

Preheat oven to 375*.  Cook macaroni as directed on package, drain.  Melt butter in medium saucepan.  Remove from heat.  Stir in flour, salt, and pepper until smooth.  Gradually stir in milk.  Bring to boil, stirring.  Reduce heat and simmer mixture 1 minute.  Remove from heat.  Stir in 1 1/2 cups cheese and the macaroni.  Pour into 1 1/2 quart casserole.  Arrange tomato slices on top.  Sprinkle remaining cheese on top.  Bake 15 minutes, or until cheese is golden brown. 

I suspect you could double this recipe for a potluck, although I haven't tried it.  How about you, readers?  Are you a macaroni and cheese fan?

43 comments:

Elizabeth Edwards said...

i love mac & cheese. such a comfort food. i can't think of any one that doesn't love it? ( :

Sunnybrook Farm said...

I would leave the tomato out in the summer as if you weren't careful, it would start tasting like a hamburger helper type of thing.
What you ended up with is probably just what the boys want!

Cat said...

Linlin used colby cheese in her macncheese and she always stuck bug hunks of cheese down in the mixture before she baked it. That's why you could get a long string of cheese when you scooped out a spoonful. I wonder if you did this to this recipe, would it taste like Linlin's?

The Cranky said...

I like it but the Great Scot LOVES it, I'll have to give this recipe a try!

Unknown said...

Oh yes, isnt it a staple? lol comfort food? Love Mac and Cheese.

Nancy said...

I will occasionally make the vintage version for Shane (the connoisseur of Velveeta!)

Unknown said...

My son and I love mac and cheese. My husband isn't a big fan. Maybe this recipe could win him over.

jp@A Green Ridge said...

Hmmm...very chilly today so this might just be what the Pres needs!!...:)JP

LisaS said...

You bet I am a mac'n cheese fan! Some of those old recipes are simply the best ;) I have something similar but add condensed cream of mushroom soup instead of the flour..will have to try yours since not everyone in my world is a fan of those little mushrooms.

Anonymous said...

I love mac and cheese and thank you for sharing this vintage recipe!

Bas. said...

daar is niets mis mee.

LONDONLULU said...

This looks just the thing for a winter's day! (It is flurrying here now so warming mac & cheese would be especially lovely:) Thanks for sharing!

Tanya Breese said...

yes, we are all mac n cheese fans here! and i'm going to pin this, yum :)

Sandra said...

Thanks for sharing the Recipe. I always end up making stove top, but have always wanted to try baked.
Pinning the recipe for later use :)

Tina Fariss Barbour said...

Oh, yes, mac and cheese is a big favorite! This looks yummy--so juicy and cheesy. Great for a day like today.

Out on the prairie said...

a real comfort food

Michaele said...

Now that is Mac and cheese the way it was meant to be. I would leave off the tomato though. Maybe some toasted bread crumbs on top?

Monkeywrangler said...

Oh yes we love Mac 'n Cheese here. Our favorite recipe from scratch came from a dear friend, via his late grandmother. It involves lots of bacon....
Everything is better with more bacon!

Barbara said...

Thanks for sharing the recipe! I don't make the box kind because there is something about powder cheese that makes me feel icky.

Gail Dixon said...

Mmmmm....the mother of all comfort foods. Love mac and cheese! Looks delicious.

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...

Nothing says "home" on a cold winter day like a plate of homemade mac & cheese.

Our Neck of the Woods said...

Looks so good! Mac & cheese is such a nice comfort food. Dairy tends to upset my stomach in large quantities though so I haven't had cheesy pasta in forever!

Kim@stuffcould.... said...

Looks so good!

Anonymous said...

Nope I have not eaten Mac and Cheese... but it is one of those things that we need to try! One of these days :) I do not have an oven so I need a stove top version of this recipe :) [ Let me figure it out :)]

Tweedles -- that's me said...

Wow!! Does that ever sound sooo good!
We love mac n cheese,, but never had it like this.
love
tweedles

An Apel a Day said...

I haven't had mac and cheese in a long time! It looks so good!

Busy Bee Suz said...

WOW.
I don't eat too many carbs….but when I do, I like it to be 'worth' it. THIS looks delish. Thank you for sharing….I'll try it soon.
Suz

Jenn Jilks said...

Looks yummy.
Hubby has decided he is allergic to dairy. I've changed all my menus. I'm so sad!
http://mymuskoka.blogspot.ca/2014/01/yesterday-i-was-birdwatching.html

Debby@Just Breathe said...

It looks delicious. Thank you for sharing your recipe.

Michelle said...

That looks so good. Nothing like "real" mac-n-cheese. True comfort food.

Harry Flashman said...

When I was a kid my mom worked. We always had macaroni and cheese on Thursday night. Always. I got to where I hated it. But after I got married, my wife made it with extra cheese and garlic, and peppers, and I really like that. We also keep a bunch of it in the supply room because it's quick and easy. In some situations, whether you like something or not is irrelevant.

Slamdunk said...

Most definitely! Different mac and cheese combos are a hit here with both young and old.

Yours looks great, by the way.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Never have been a fan of Mac and cheese.. Had it WAY too much when my sons were little... ha... BUT--some of the fancy recipes these days with added stuff are good!!!!

I do like cheddar cheese --and don't care for Velveeta ---if I make mac and cheese. Yours looks good.

Hugs,
Betsy

Sally said...

That's the way I make it also, however mine doesn't look that good! The kids have always wanted me to make it whenever they're visiting.

xoxo

White Lace and Promises said...

Love mac and cheese. YUUUUMMMY! My MIL makes the best in a crock pot. She doesn't have a recipe, just mixed some cream of cheese soup, a boxed mix, and real cheese and milk and who knows what!

Maggid said...

Macaroni & Cheese????
YUM!
My dad used to make the very best . .

oooh, this looks mighty good.

Unknown said...

I like the addition of the tomato. It will add a nice fresh taste to the dish.

Starry Dawn said...

Hi Lisa,
Your recipe looks delicious,
especially on cold days.
Pasta is always good to have
on those long and cold Winter days...
Thank you for sharing it with us!
Have you read my last poem, Lisa?
I've been looking for a nice title. Please, take a look!
Have a great week, sweetheart!
All the Best,
Poet Starry.

Endah Murniyati said...

Yummy. Look so appetizing

mail4rosey said...

I'm a mac and cheese fan!! :)

Shell said...

I'm going to try this for dinner tomorrow. We love mac and cheese here.

Unknown said...

This is great!

Aodhnait said...

I adore Mac & Cheese. But would you believe it is not commonly made or eaten in Ireland. Each time I visit the USA I make sure to order a portion of Mac & cheese in any diners we visit!