Favourite Mac and Cheese

Not to sound like a cliche, but macaroni and cheese can be very personal. How one prepares Kraft Dinner is so different from person to person. I remember having friends who used all butter, so it would be creamier, or more milk to create a thinner sauce. I even remember eating it once when someone was kind enough to make it for me, and when I was eating it there was barely any flavour.Turns out this person only uses half the flavour package! And don't even get started on hotdogs or ketchup.

I remember teaching a friend to make KD in highschool and because it was her first time making it herself we measured everything out according to the package, and it was so good! Because basically the flavour packet + the milk + the butter is a formula to make the sauce. Cooking is really all about science. Once you make your own formula or recipe for the sauce, you can play with variations (peas or no peas?).

Now, I haven't eaten KD in years, although I sometimes still crave it a little. Once you've started making your own Macaroni and Cheese though, the KD stuff just doesn't measure up.

This recipe is pretty simple, and easy to adapt for your own tastes.

Macaroni and Cheese (with Bacon!)

- 2 3/4 + 1/2 cup shredded old Cheddar cheese

- 2 tbsp butter

- 1 onion, chopped

- 1/3 cup flour

- 3 cups milk

- 2 tsp Dijon mustard

- salt and pepper

- 2 green onions, chopped

- 4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled

- 2 cups macaroni

In large pot of boiling salted water, cook macaroni until tender but firm, about 8 minutes. Drain and return to pot.

Meanwhile, in saucepan, melt butter over medium heat; cook onion for about 5 minutes, until softened. Add flour and cook, stirring, for about 1 minute. Gradually whisk in 3 cups milk and cook, whisking, until sauce is thickened. This usually takes me 10-12 minutes, but sauce will sometimes thicken in as little as 8 minutes.

Add mustard and salt and pepper. Stir in 2 & 3/4 cups of the shredded Cheddar, just until melted. Pour over macaroni.

Stir green onions and bacon into mixture until combined.

Spread in 8-inch square glass baking dish. Sprinkle remaining cheddar on top. Bake, uncovered, in 350 F oven for 30 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.