Mac and Cheese - Yummm!

Last night for dinner I cooked up some delicious baked bbq chicken, made mac and cheese from scratch, and steamed some broccoli {had to get those greens in!}.

The first time that I made macaroni and cheese was over two years ago. I really lucked out because my first attempt was a success! It was absolutely DELICIOUS!! I had found a recipe that I was certainly going to keep forever!! But then...I lost it. I scoured site after site {where I originally found it} with no success. I was so bummed. I've tried new recipes since but none compared to "my first".

And then last night...I found my original recipe!! And it tasted as good as we remembered it being.

For those of you looking for a yummy mac and cheese recipe, here you go:

PREP TIME: 25 Min

COOK TIME: 35 Min

READY IN: 1 Hr

INGREDIENTS:

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 (16 ounce) package elbow macaroni
9 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup shredded Muenster cheese
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 1/2 cups half-and-half
8 ounces cubed processed cheese food
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

DIRECTIONS:

1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain well and return to cooking pot.
2. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt 8 tablespoons butter; stir into the macaroni.
3. In a large bowl, combine the Muenster cheese, mild and sharp Cheddar cheeses, and Monterey Jack cheese; mix well.
4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
5. Add the half and half, 1 1/2 cups of cheese mixture, cubed processed cheese food, and eggs to macaroni; mix together and season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a lightly greased deep 2 1/2 quart casserole dish. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup of cheese mixture and 1 tablespoon of butter.
6. Bake in preheated oven for 35 minutes or until hot and bubbling around the edges; serve.

I made just a few modifications:

• I doubled the amount of cheese noted in the recipe
• I didn't bother with muenster cheese or cubed processed cheese
• Used 1 egg instead of 2
• Used 2 cups of half-and-half instead of 1 1/2
• Sprinkled bread crumbs on top before putting in oven!

ENJOY!!