I am on a mission... to find the perfect macaroni and cheese recipe.



I have baked far too many so-called "best mac and cheeses" that are sub-par and gone to too many restaurants preparing myself for the ultimate mac and cheese experience only to be disappointed.

I have not-so-secretly thought a lot about opening a cheese themed restaurant featuring varieties of mac and cheese, grilled cheeses, and other various cheesey items. Oh, and wine of course! (Duh)

Anyway, I thought, this is all well and good, and I can make a mean grilled cheese, but the mac and cheese recipe? Not so much.

So, I decided it's time to get to work!



Tonight I began my perfect mac and cheese quest with a recipe for one of my favorite mac and cheeses ever: Panera's Signature Mac and Cheese.(Other favorites: Macs Speedshop in Charlotte, Stouffers microwave - what?, J Alexander's Not Your Ordinary Mac & Cheese) I like a creamy mac and cheese (no eggs - yuck!) with a good crusty topping. Serve it to me in an individual ramekin and I'll be yours forever.

I found this great recipe online: macaroni and cheese – panera style

It's fairly simple and involves making your roux in the microwave! Plus I really like that all the ingredients, while fatty and delicious, are all real.



I subbed orange american and cheddar for the white (cause that's what my grocery store had), added a few spices (ground mustard, nutmeg, and cayenne), and also baked it with bread crumbs (because it's not a real mac and cheese unless it is baked with an amazing bread crumby cheesy crust amiright?).

Well, it came out pretty amazing. Before the baking and bread crumbs bit which was very disappointing. So good before the oven. I think if I made this one again I may try to add more liquid cause it wasn't cheesy enough? Not sure. Also, note to self: must get some panko bread crumbs for next attempt. And maybe cheese topping before bread crumbs?

Some other good but not great recipes I've enjoyed:

• Paula Deen's Crockpot Mac and Cheese - this one is good for big groups (I made it for the last super bowl), but the cheese soup is full of junk ingredients
• Smitten Kitchen's Martha's Macaroni and Cheese - good but time consuming and expensive