Different shapes and sizes of macaroni, baked in a pool of cheese and milk; now that's what I call a feast. Macaroni is a machine-made dry pasta. It's shorter than spaghetti and hollow, containing no eggs. Its origin is debatable, with both Greece and Italy, laying claim for it. Cheese is an ancient food, its origin dating back to 8000 BCE. Over the years, it has evolved to offer a wide range. Calcium-rich cheese also contains a great deal of nutrients like protein and phosphorus. Homemade macaroni can provide nutrition, simply by adding a whole variety of vegetables and cheese to it. Try out any one of these easy-to-make food recipes for a fun-filled meal.
Creamy Mushroom Macaroni
Ingredients:
- Tunnel-shaped macaroni, 1 packet
- Milk, 1/3 cup
- Processed cheese, cubed, 1 pound
- Condensed cream of mushroom soup, 10 ounces
- Butter, 1 tbsp
Method: Boil macaroni in a large pot (add some salt), until 'just about soft'. Preheat the oven. In a saucepan over medium heat, combine milk, cheese, mushroom soup and butter. Stir until the cheese has melted and the mixture is smooth. Stir in the cooked macaroni and pour it into a baking dish. Bake until top is golden brown. Serve hot with your choice of bread.
Baked Macaroni, Tomato and Cheese
Ingredients:
- Shell-shaped macaroni, 1 large box
- Ripe red tomatoes, pureed, 1.12 oz
- Large eggs, 2
- Cheddar cheese, 1 block
- Butter, 2 tbsps
Method: Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Cook and strain the macaroni. In a baking dish, layer the cheese and macaroni separately; ending with the cheese layer. Beat eggs and tomatoes in a small bowl and pour over the macaroni. Bake until the tomatoes, cheese and egg layer at top is crispy. Serve hot.
Sausage, Macaroni and Cheese
Ingredients:
- Sausages, sliced, 1 small packet of your choice
- Spaghetti, 1 medium packet
- Onion, grated, 1
- Tomatoes, chopped, 2
- Cheese, grated 1 large block
- Peppercorn, 1 tsp
- Fresh basil, 1 tsp
- Garlic, 2-3 cloves
- Butter, 1 tbsp
Method: In a large saucepan, melt butter. Add to it garlic, peppercorn, onion, tomatoes and basil. Once soft, puree all. Boil the macaroni, with some salt, till cooked. Drain well and combine with the pureed mixture in a baking dish. Layer the grated cheese and sausages, alternately. Bake at 300 degrees F. Serve hot.
Cheddar, Ham and Pasta Bake
Ingredients:
- Elbow macaroni, 8 ounces
- American cheese, 4 ounces
- Parmesan cheese, shredded, 2 ounces
- Cheddar cheese, shredded, 8 ounces
- Butter, 4 tbsps
- Green onions, thinly sliced, 6 to 8
- Garlic, finely minced, 1 clove
- Parsley, chopped, 1 tbsp
- Ham, diced, 12 to 16 ounces
- Flour, 3 tbsps
- Beer, 1 cup
- Milk, 2 cups
Ingredients for Topping:
- Soft fresh bread crumbs, ¾ cup
- Butter, melted, 2 tbsps
- Sweet paprika as needed
Method: Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease the baking tray well. Boil pasta in salted water, drain and keep aside. In a large saucepan, heat butter. Gradually add onions, garlic, parsley, ham and saute it. Add flour and beer, stirring continuously; make sure no lumps are formed. Add in milk and the cheeses. Cook, until sauce has thickened and the cheese has melted. Add salt and pepper to taste. Combine the cooked pasta and spoon it in the baking dish. Sprinkle the topping ingredients over the casserole. Bake, until topping is lightly browned. Serve hot.
Enjoy these mouth-watering cheese dip recipes, in the comfort of your home.
