ABC Mac & Cheese
Author: 
Recipe type: Pasta
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 4+
 
As we transition into fall, this ABC pasta doubles as a comfort food and a fairly mess-free rainy-day project for kids of all ages.
Ingredients
  • 2 cups macaroni, cooked and drained
  • Cheddar cheese or other cheeses of your choice, to taste
  • Whole wheat lasagna noodles, cooked and drained
  • Alphabet cookie cutters
Béchamel Sauce
  • 2 Tbsp butter
  • 2 Tbsp flour
  • 2 cups milk
Instructions
Bechamel Sauce
  1. Melt the butter in a pan over medium-low heat.
  2. Stir in the flour and then gradually add the milk, whisking it constantly until the mixture thickens. It is better to cook it slowly so that it does not burn or boil. Sometimes I make a mornay sauce, stirring grated cheese into the béchamel sauce to help thicken it.
  3. Once thickened, remove the sauce from the heat.
Macaroni and Cheese
  1. Cut out shapes and/or letters in the cooked lasagna noodles.
  2. Place half of the cooked macaroni noodles in a casserole dish.
  3. Cover the noodles with slices of cheese (or grated cheese) and salt & pepper.
  4. Add the rest of the noodles.
  5. Pour the béchamel or mornay sauce over the noodles.
  6. Place slices of cheese (or grated cheese) on top.
  7. I usually stir everything together so that the cheese is evenly mixed throughout the noodles.
  8. Lay lasagna noodles with cut out letters or shapes on top of the pasta, and lightly sprinkle the top with cheese, ensuring that the cut-out shapes are still visible.
  9. Cover the mac and cheese with foil and put the casserole dish on a pan in case the cheese bubbles over while baking.
  10. Bake the casserole for 30 minutes at 350 degrees or until bubbly and lightly browned.
Recipe by Itsy Bitsy Foodies at http://itsybitsyfoodies.com/abc-mac-cheese/