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The modern versions of mac and cheese are just fine and dandy if you need a quick answer to dinner - but nothing beats homemade macaroni and cheese. My mom had a very simple recipe that perks up the average macaroni and cheese experience, and is far more nutritious than the store-bought variety. Being a family recipe, it tends to rely a lot on eye-balling and pinches-and-dashes philosophy, but I have managed to find measurements that work to create the right taste.

HOMEMADE MACARONI AND CHEESE - courtesy of Jeanne Austin, my mom.

INGREDIENTS

2-3 cups dry elbow macaroni
1 large (24 oz) can diced tomatoes
1/2 lb. (or more, to taste) sharp (or extra sharp) cheddar cheese, diced or cubed
1/4 to 1/2 cup of sugar (we like ours sweeter)
3/4 tsp. salt
pepper to taste (we just usually make a nice light layer over the top - approx. 1/2 tsp or so)
whole milk

DIRECTIONS

1. Boil macaroni in large pot, as directed; rinse under cool water. Drain, return to pan (off burner).

2. Rinse and drain tomatoes.

3. To macaroni, add tomatoes, cheese, sugar, salt and pepper. Mix well.

4. Pour into 9x12 or similar size glass dish (may use non-stick spray for easier cleanup).

5. Pour milk to just below surface of macaroni mixture - not quite to the top of the dish, leave about a 1/2 to 1". (Whole milk makes a better consistency than lesser fat milk)

6. Place in COLD oven, turn temperature to 250 degrees, bake for 15-20 minutes (this is to keep the milk from curdling too fast and making clumps). Turn oven up to 350 degrees and bake for additional 45 minutes, or until top is beginning to brown and crisp.

Let stand for a few minutes before serving, to allow firmness to form.

We serve ours with sliced french bread and butter - the perfect combination! A salad on the side wouldn't hurt either!

(2 cups macaroni will serve 4-6; 3 cups will serve 6-8)

It is a family staple for my bunch. No one else we know makes it like my mom did - besides her daughters, of course! It's easy and very satisfying, and makes the commercial mac and cheese dishes cringe at the nutritional comparison! Try it - I promise you'll like it!

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