This recipe for mac and cheese is one of my favorites because it is easy to make and does not require too much equipment or time, which are both very valuable resources in this busy world we live in!
I first made this pasta dish back when I was in high school and I have since modified it slightly to make it even more delicious. My current version uses lower fat milk instead of whole milk, reduced calorie buttery crumbs instead of regular breadcrumb topping, and red sauce instead of white gravy as the flavor component.
This recipe makes enough for about eight to ten people depending on whether you eat leftovers or not! It can be frozen up to two months after baking so if you find yourself with extra food at a party or during the week, let the kids help themselves out from the freezer!
It is also great served either hot or cold so feel free to prepare it ahead and warm/reheat later if needed.
Equipment needed
While most people agree that kids love mac and cheese, some recipes are way too heavy with butter or milk as toppings. These additions may be well intended to make it taste better, but they add lots of calories!
Sylvia has created an easy to follow recipe for delicious mac and cheese without any added ingredients or fat. It is perfect for kids who do not like overly rich foods!
She uses cooked pasta shells instead of noodles and rice flour in place of bread crumbs to give the finished product more flavor and texture. This recipe takes less than 30 minutes to prepare and only requires basic equipment.
The sauce she uses contains dried tomato powder which gives it additional color and slight tangy flavor.
Pat your pasta dry
When preparing this recipe, one of the most important steps is to make sure that you do not have wet macaroni! If the pasta seems slightly moist, then take it out and put it in a bowl or plate to finish drying off.
When baking the cheese mixture in the oven, that can also cause water to react with the milk and cream in the sauce and create steam.
Make your sauce
While most people use milk as their liquid in mac and cheese, there is another option! You can make your own flavor-infused butter or cream to serve as the cooking medium for the pasta.
To make it easy, we have provided you with all of our recipe ingredients in one place along with some tips here! Read all about them here! We also linked directly to each ingredient so that you can easily find them online or at your local grocery store or food market.
Making your own butter or cream is an excellent way to upcycle leftover foods or even create new recipes. Many people do this to save money too by avoiding buying extra groceries that may not be needed later.
Make your cheese sauce
While most people use milk as their liquid in making mac and cheese, you can choose from several other liquids such as buttermilk, sour cream, heavy cream, and chicken or vegetable broth. It is not necessary to add sugar to the recipe, unless you like that taste!
If you are looking for some extra flavor, you can always stir in roasted red pepper, garlic, onion, or any type of cooked meat or vegetables. Add these at the very end so they can melt down into the pasta mixture.
General tips: remember that your cheese will probably burn slightly when you start cooking it, so make sure to whisk it together properly and slowly. Also, be careful not to over-mix the pasta and cheese, this could break up the texture.
Make your macaroni and cheese
Almost every person has a recipe for classic pasta and cream-based, melted cheese with butter or milk as an ingredient. But what about recipes that do not have those ingredients?
Many people do not know how to make mac and cheese without cow’s milk products. This can be because they are either vegan or have food allergies. Or maybe they just like the taste of dairy more than other tastes.
Whatever the reason, making pasta and cheese dishes without milk is pretty easy!
There are many ways to make this dish flavor-filled and special. One way to learn how to make delicious mac and cheese sans milk is by experimenting with different cheeses.
You can use pregrated block cheeses in place of shredded ones. You may also want to try using rice or almond milk instead of regular milk. The consistency of the sauce will change depending on which liquid you use, so practice makes perfect.
Take photos
After you make this mac and cheese, take lots of pictures! Not only for yourself, but also to share with us on social media so that people can see how delicious this recipe is!
Take before and after photos to show the difference between the original pasta and cream sauce and what it was covered in. Make sure to include your favorite part of the dish as well as whatever garnishes or decorations you may have.
If you are able to, try making this recipe at home. If possible, write down any tips and tricks you learn from doing so! Sharing these recipes is our way of giving back to all those who love soul food cuisine.
Share on social media
Let others know about this delicious mac and cheese recipe by sharing it on social media. Spread the word by posting pictures of it on your favorite Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter accounts. Add some comments telling people how much you love it and asking them to try it!
If you take time to share these recipes with other people, they will in return do the same for you. We all need encouragement from time to time, so go ahead and let yourself be inspired.
The best way to enjoy great food is by serving it to those that appreciate good dishes. When someone else tells you what to eat, you can choose to accept or reject their advice, but you must taste the food before commenting.
Hopefully you’ll find something you like and want to make for yourself or for another person. Having enough knowledge and skills to prepare nutritious meals is one of the most important things we can achieve as humans.
