Macaroni and cheese - john thorne

4 servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
½poundsElbow macaroni
4tablespoons(1/2 stick) butter; cut into
;bits
dashTabasco sauce
1can(12 oz.) evaporated milk (or use whole milk mixed with a little cream
1poundsSharp Cheddar cheese; grated
2Eggs; beaten
1teaspoonDry mustard; dissolved in a
;little water
Salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 350F. Boil the macaroni until just barely done in salted water. Drain and toss with the butter in a large, ovenproof mixing bowl. Mix the Tabasco into the evaporated milk. Reserving about ⅓ cup, stir the milk into the macaroni, then add three quarters of the cheese, the eggs, and the mustard. When well combined, season to taste with salt and pepper, and set the bowl directly in the oven. Every five minutes, remove it briefly to stir in some of the reserved cheese, adding more evaporated milk as necessary to keep the mixture moist and smooth. When all the cheese has been incorporated and the mixture is nicely hot and creamy (which should take 20 minutes, all told), serve it at once, with a plate of toasted common crackers to crumble over.

No matter how closely you follow my instructions, your macaroni and cheese will never taste exactly like mine, but we'll hope. I never made the dish exactly the same way twice, but each time it gets more divine. -Pearl Bailey

from Simple Cooking, by John Thorne ISBN 0 14 01.1737 7 Submitted By NANCY VAINE On 11-03-94