Mac & Cheese - One Pot

I was not planning on another post this year but I received a blog email this morning asking for an easy one pot meal to do after the crazy holiday dinners and company parties. Honestly, the only one pot recipe that seemed like a winner for this time of year is a Mac & Cheese. Typically a traditional Mac and Cheese is a bit of work to do, but a couple of years ago when preparing my first cookbook my editor Jose, who is a chef in Europe, suggested I

consider adding a one pot Mac & Cheese as a quick recipe for Americans.

I hesitated to add this into my cookbook as I was trying to stay with recipes I knew were traditional.

Today it does seem like a great time to do a one pot Mac & Cheese

So...for my blog friend who asked for a really quick dinner that is yummy and just so darn good, here is a one pot Mac & Cheese recipe I think you will love.

Quick Tip - you can add any leftover vegetables that you like. I recommend peas & onions, yellow cauliflower or even butternut squash.

Ingredinets:

3/4 cups pasta such as shells, elbows, mini penne or bows

5 oz sharp white or yellow cheddar cheese

1/2 cup grated Parmesan

OR - 8 Oz of Italian Cheese Blend by Kraft

2 TBL butter

1/4 cup water

2 cups whole milk - *use only whole milk

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

salt and black pepper

optional - mustard powder or Emerils

Directions:

In a large little pot add the milk and water and place on medium high heat until just simmering.

Add a pinch of salt and the pasta. Cook for 2 minutes then reduce the heat to low and simmer the pasta according to package directions, stirring often, but reduce by one full minute. You want al dente pasta. So if the box instructs 8 minutes cook for 2 minutes on medium high, reduce heat to simmer then cook for no more than 5 minutes, etc.

Turn the heat off and add your selected cheeses and selected spices. Keep the pot on stove burner and stir until the pasta absorbs and develops a Mac & Cheese texture. Taste. Adjust seasonings as you wish.

*If adding vegetables incorporate as much or as little as you like at the end.

ENJOY!!