Homemade Macaroni and Cheese

This is a recipe given to me by my aunt. She has made it for years, and I have no clue where she got the recipe. It's a favorite of mine, but for obvious reasons, I don't make it too often. My kids love it, then again, what kid doesn't love mac and cheese?

Ingredients

1lb box of large pasta shells

1/2 cube of butter

1/4 cup of flour

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

2 cups of warm milk

8 oz block of Tilamok medium cheddar cheese (I do 4 oz medium 4 oz sharp - up to you)

1/4 teaspoon tabasco sauce

Pepper to taste

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350*. Grate cheese. Cook noodles according to package. Warm milk in microwave for about 2 minutes or until warm. Drain noodles when done.

In a medium sauce pan, melt butter, add flour when frothy. Stir. Add milk and stir. Add cream, stir for a couple minutes. Add desired amount of pepper, tabasco and grated cheese. Stir until everything is well combined, thick and hot, but not bubbly.

Put noodles in a shallow casserole type dish, pour cheese sauce over noodles and mix well. Cover with foil and bake at 350* for 30 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.

Stir and enjoy.

Chef's notes: This is one of those recipes you can easily play with. I add more then 8 ounces of cheese. I probably do more like 9 oz, I love cheese and think the cheesier the better! I also add closer to 1/2 tsp of tabasco. My kids don't mind spicy, but its easy to over spice this with the tabasco, so just be careful. You can taste it to see how the spice is and add as you like.

Bon Appétit

-Katie