Kids Favorite Mac-N-Cheese

When going to potluck or family dinners it's always hard to decide what to bring, everyone usually brings desserts, potato salad, baked beans or other common favorites. It's hard to find something kids will eat at one of these gatherings. We've discovered that everyone loves the sharp cheddar favor of this mac-n-cheese, along with the creamy texture. This is a simple recipe, that's very easy to make and usually a big hit. If you expect to have some leftovers for yourself, you'd better make an extra pan. You can easily heat up the leftovers,(if you do get lucky enough to have any) by sprinkling a little water on top and reheating it until warm. You can make the mac-n-cheese in advance and just heat it up after you get there or just cook it right before you leave it'll stay warm for quite some time, just cover with foil and you're ready to roll.

3cups- uncooked elbow macaroni (about 12oz pkg)

3cups- milk

5Tbsp- flour

1tsp- salt or onion salt

11/2cup- soft bread crumbs(about 4 slices)

2lbs- sharp cheddar, shredded divide as called for in the directions.

1/4cup- melted butter or margarine.

You can cut down portions by cutting the recipe in half, that's what was done in the batch pictured, because there was only 4 of us eating that day. Many times I'll double the recipe, taking one to the pot luck and keeping another for home.

Preparation time is about 20 minutes.; Baking time is 45 minutes at 350 degrees.

Begin by cooking the macaroni according to the package; drain well and set aside.

Place, milk, flour, and salt in a large jar, cover tightly and shake well about 1-2 minutes. I like to use an old mason jar, with aluminum foil so my top doesn't have to be washed, sometimes I just use a rubber band and my hand to hold it.

Spray a 9x13 baking pan lightly with cooking oil. Stir together in the pan you cooked the macaroni, the flour mix, cooked macaroni, and about 31/2 cups of shredded cheese(saving about 1-11/2 cups of shredded cheese for topping). Pour the mix into the baking pan, sprinkle breadcrumbs over the top evenly, cover with the remaining cheese, then drizzle the melted butter as evenly as possible.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until golden brown and bubbly on top. Allow a while to cool it's very hot when it first comes out. This gives you time to get your table settings ready or entertain your guest.

Makes about 8-12 servings, maybe a little more if your serving a bunch of kids.

Here's another great recipe that's sure to be a smash. Maria's bean dip, this 4 layer bean dip is always gone before dinner. I'm not sure which is more popular because both recipes always come back as an empty pan. Maria's bean dip takes a little longer in prep time but is also very easy to make. Hope you enjoy these recipes and pass them along to friends and family.