Macaroni and Cheese

I am married to a man from Wisconsin so cheese is a pretty big staple in our home. Any way I can incorporate it into a meal makes my family happy, so on the days when I serve homemade macaroni and cheese for lunch, everyone is thrilled. Including me. Making this meal from scratch, using whole grain pasta and real cheese, allows me to feel at peace with feeding my family a nutritious meal for little money. So skip the boxed stuff and try this quick and easy recipe:

Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese

• 1 lb 100% whole wheat elbow macaroni noodles
• 1/4 c. butter
• 3 T. flour
• 2 c. milk
• 1 t. yellow mustard
• 2 t. salt
• 1/2 t. black pepper
• 3 c. shredded cheddar cheese

Prepare noodles as directed on the box. In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Whisk in flour and immediately add milk. Bring to a boil, whisking continuously. Once boiling, stir in mustard, salt, pepper and cheese. Stir until cheese is completely melted and sauce is creamy. Pour the sauce over the noodles, stir and serve!

You can toss in some hamburger and peas to make this a tasty and complete dinner. Or try adding some diced all-beef franks and drizzling it with ketchup for the picky child. Cut the recipe in half and use it as a side dish to almost any meal. The options are endless, the price is right, and the nutrition is sure to make everyone happy!