Macaroni Cheese

This has become a favourite for the Mini Mes recently which is not surprising as like me, they love cheese. They often request it for dinner and any leftovers are ideal for lunch boxes the following day. It's great for the Mr too to take to work for a carb energy kick.

Ingredients

500g macaroni
120g cheese (and extra for on top)
25g flour
25g butter
300ml milk
200g smoked lardons
Parsley
Black pepper


Method

• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees.
• While the macaroni cooks, as instructed on the packet, dry fry the lardons in a pan on a low heat and then set them to one side.
• Move on to make the cheese sauce by melting the butter in a pan on a low heat, adding the flour to create a paste and then mixing in the milk slowly ensuring all lumps have gone. Use a whisk if necessary so that it is nice and smooth.
• Stir continuously for a few minutes while the sauce thickens and then add the cheese. Continue to stir until it has melted. 
• Drain the macaroni and return to the pan, add in the lardons and pour in the cheese sauce mixing thoroughly to make sure it is spread evenly.
• Place the macaroni cheese in an ovenproof dish, grind a little pepper on top, sprinkle more cheese on and add fresh or dried parsley to taste.
• Cook for around 15 minutes until the cheese is golden and bubbling on top.
• Scoff!

Sometimes I add some peas or sweetcorn in too and bake fresh bread to scoop it up with.
Yum.


Have you had macaroni cheese recently?