Looking for a kid friendly - baked macaroni and cheese

I'm trying to come up with foods DD will eat now that she's on table food and prefers things she can pick up with her hands. However, I want something tasty enough that DH and I will enjoy as a meal rather than a side dish and am tired of the Velveeta or Kraft mac n cheese anyway.

Anyone have a good recipe? I remember having a home made mac n cheese one time that had breadcrumbs on top and it was so good!

Re: Looking for a kid friendly - baked macaroni and cheese

DD loves this, she's almost 18months old. It makes great leftovers too.

Mac & Cheese

1 pound elbow macaroni (rotini is great too)
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
2 cups milk
Salt and pepper, to taste
2 1/2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar

Cook the macaroni in boiling water for about 10 minutes until tender but still firm. Drain well and set aside.
In a deep skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the flour to make a roux and cook, stirring, to remove any lumps. Pour in the milk and cook until the mixture is thick and smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in Cheddar and continue to cook until melted. Add the cooked macaroni and stir. Transfer the mixture to a 2-quart casserole dish. Bake in a preheated 350-degree F oven for 20 minutes.

I sprinkle Italian bread crumbs on top before I bake it. I usually serve it with a side of broccoli.

You can just buy the prepackaged bags of cheddar (usually 2 cups) and then add a few slices of American cheese or any other good melting cheese to make up for the extra half cup.

Message edited 6/20/2009 12:10:39 AM.

Re: Looking for a kid friendly - baked macaroni and cheese

i made this last night & it was so yummy

*I used cheddar cheese & mozzerella
also, seasoned bread crumbs (store bought)

Vegetable oil
Kosher salt
1 pound elbow macaroni or cavatappi (see Note)
1 quart milk
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, divided
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
12 ounces Gruyere cheese, grated (4 cups)
8 ounces extra-sharp cheddar, grated (2 cups)
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg
3/4 pound fresh tomatoes (4 small)
1 1/2 cups fresh white bread crumbs (5 slices, crusts removed)
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Drizzle oil into a large pot of boiling salted water. Add the macaroni and cook according to the directions on the package, 6 to 8 minutes. Drain well.

Meanwhile, heat the milk in a small saucepan, but don't boil it. Melt 6 tablespoons of butter in a large (4-quart) pot and add the flour. Cook over low heat for 2 minutes, stirring with a whisk. While whisking, add the hot milk and cook for a minute or two more, until thickened and smooth. Off the heat, add the Gruyere, cheddar, 1 tablespoon salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Add the cooked macaroni and stir well. Pour into a 3-quart baking dish.

Slice the tomatoes and arrange on top. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, combine them with the fresh bread crumbs, and sprinkle on the top. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the macaroni is browned on the top.

Note: To make ahead, put the macaroni and cheese in the baking dish, cover, and refrigerate until ready to bake. Put the tomatoes and bread crumbs on top and bake for about 40 to 50 minutes
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/mac-cheese-recipe/index.html

Message edited 6/20/2009 1:36:31 AM.

Re: Looking for a kid friendly - baked macaroni and cheese

I make this one (minus the breadcrumbs) and my 17 month old DS LOVES it:

Baked Mac & Cheese
* 1/2 pound elbow macaroni
* 3 tablespoons butter
* 3 tablespoons flour
* 1 tablespoon powdered mustard
* 3 cups milk
* 1/2 cup yellow onion, finely diced
* 1 bay leaf
* 1/2 teaspoon paprika
* 1 large egg
* 12 ounces sharp cheddar, shredded
* 1 teaspoon kosher salt
* Fresh black pepper

Topping:

* 3 tablespoons butter
* 1 cup panko bread crumbs

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large pot of boiling, salted water cook the pasta to al dente.

While the pasta is cooking, in a separate pot, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour and mustard and keep it moving for about five minutes. Make sure it's free of lumps. Stir in the milk, onion, bay leaf, and paprika. Simmer for ten minutes and remove the bay leaf.

Temper in the egg. Stir in 3/4 of the cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Fold the macaroni into the mix and pour into a 2-quart casserole dish. Top with remaining cheese.

Melt the butter in a saute pan and toss the bread crumbs to coat. Top the macaroni with the bread crumbs. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and rest for five minutes before serving.

Remember to save leftovers for fried Macaroni and Cheese.

Re: Looking for a kid friendly - baked macaroni and cheese

I like this recipe since you don't have to precook the pasta. I usually add the breadcrumbs at the end and triple the recipe.

Mac and Cheese- Makes 4 servings

1 can chicken broth
1 cup + 2 tablespoons of uncooked pasta
¾ cup of evaporated milk
2 tablespoons of butter, cut up
2 teaspoons of flour
¼ teaspoon of salt and pepper
1 ½ cups of shredded Cheddar cheese

Heat oven to 350. Mix everything except cheese. Stir and put in oven safe dish and cover with foil. After 15 min stir. Cook for another 15 mins and stir. Cook for a total of 40. Add cheese at end. Mix through.

At the end, I melt butter and mix it with some breadcrumbs. I put the dish under the broiler to crisp up for a couple of mins.