I LOVE macaroni and Cheese. It’s not something I eat very often anymore because well I’m over 40 and carbs are just not more friend LOL!  This macaroni and cheese recipe is the “adult version”, (its just means I have use some adult cheese flavours) but I have also include a few variations, one with hidden veggies as well. So grab a spoon and just sit down to this delicious creamy cheesy pasta, just not too often if you don’t want to look like macaroni and cheese, all soft and squishy!

This macaroni cheese recipe was developed out of necessity, as I use to eat the continental four cheeses pasta or their macaroni and cheese, you know the one in the packet, but I kept reading the back of the packet before I made it and one day I just couldn’t put all those preservative and unrecognisable ingredients into my body anymore! So after a few goes at getting it just right, this is my favourite MAC & CHEESE.

I always make a double batch as the macaroni and cheese freezes really well. I pop it into aluminium foil oven containers and put it in the freezer ready to use. Sometimes I take it out in the morning, but mostly I just remove the lid and put it straight in the oven, it just takes a bit longer to get that golden crust on the top.

Ingredients

Basic White Sauce x 1 (or x 2 if you want it really creamy and saucy)
250g dried pasta (macaroni or penne)
2 onions
1 cup tasty cheese
1 cup parmesan
1/2 cup mozzarella
1/2 cup of your favourite cheese (I love Smoked Provolone Dolce)
1 – 2 tablespoons smokey paprika (sifted)
Salt and Pepper to taste

Basic White Sauce (Click here to find this recipe and many more in my Basics 1 eBook, free when you subscribe to my blog)
150g butter
100g plain flour
1000ml full cream milk

Variations – Kids (or even Adult) Hidden Veggies

Use 1 1/2 cups tasty cheese and 1 1/2 cups mozzarella
Steam up some about 200-300g of cauliflower, carrots, sweet potato and pumpkin (orange veggies works really well) you could even use some zucchini if they don’t have an issue with green bits and blend in the thermomix or food processor until a nice puree, then stir through with the white sauce and cheese before topping with (non adult cheese bend).

Variations – Bacon/Chicken

Sauté some chopped bacon or chicken breast (or even just use left over some BBQ Chicken) in a pan and add to the pasta, before adding the white sauce

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180° C.
2. Boil pasta in a big pot of water, drain and put back into the pot.
3. Grate onion and place on hot pasta and stir in.

It even taste good just like this, but better when it has been baked!

4. Add white sauce and paprika to pasta and stir well. (If you sift the paprika in it will combine a bit better and not have any lumps) This is where you would stir through your pureed veggies if you want to.
5. Combine cheeses and add 3/4 of the cheese to pasta, stir again (make sure you leave enough to sprinkle on the top).
6. Salt and pepper to taste.
7. Place in an oven proof dish and then into your freezer containers and sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top.
8. Bake in the oven at 180 degrees until just browning on the top (approximately 15-20 mins) EAT!

White Sauce Method

1. Place butter into a medium saucepan on a medium heat and melt butter.
2. Place milk into a separate saucepan and heat milk (do not boil).
3. Add in flour add in paprika to the melted butter and cook, continually stirring for 3 minutes (this is needed to cook out the flour).
4. Add in milk and cook, continually stirring until sauce is desired thickness.

Thermomix Method

1. Preheat oven to 180° C
2. Boil pasta in a big pot of water, drain and put back into the pot.
3. While pasta is cooking add onions to mixing bowl and chop for 5 seconds/speed 7 scrape down the sides, and repeat 5 seconds/speed 7 and add onion to the hot pasta.
4. Add all white sauce ingredients to Thermomix bowl and cook 14 mins/90°/speed 4.
5. Add the paprika to the white sauce and cook for another 1 min/90°/speed 4.
6. Pour sauce into pasta and stir.
7. Combine cheeses and add 3/4 of the cheese to pasta, stir again (make sure you leave enough to sprinkle on the top).
8. Place in an ovenproof dish and then into your freezer containers and sprinkle the remaining cheese all over the top.
9. Bake in the oven until just browning on the top, (approximately 15-20 minutes) EAT!

NOTE

Please note that you can use more cheese if you desire and you can also substitute the cheese for any particular cheese you like or have at home.

The grated onion and the smoky paprika make this dish really delicious and gives it lots of flavour. If you are unable to ingest  onion and garlic grated swede is a wonderful substitute.

I also have a few You Tube links that you may like to check out with me cooking in my kitchen  ADULT MACARONI and CHEESE and this is the link on You Tube for how to make a BASIC WHITE SAUCE.

Don’t forget to subscribe to my blog and receive 3 free eBooks then have a look around at all mother other great recipe ideas.

Enjoy Irresponsibly, but you really should enjoy this dish responsibly as apart of a balanced diet 🙂

Liz xox

Elizabeth Connolly

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I have been cooking since I can remember. I am a Thermomix consultant, so now (whenever possible) try to give you Conventional AND Thermomix methods for the recipes. I like to share tips on how to save money and how making food from scratch isn't really that hard (especially with a Thermomix). If you have any questions about the Thermomix or cooking/food in general please email me as I'm happy to chat.
Liz xx
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