Macaroni and Cheese

Ingredients

• 2 cups dried elbow macaroni
• 5 cups water
• 2 tbsp oil
• ¼ cup green onions, thinly sliced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tbsp flour
• 2 cups milk
• ½ cup (2 oz) smoked Gouda cheese, shredded
• ½ cup (1.5 oz) Parmesan cheese, shredded
• or ½ lb cheddar cheese, shredded
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 5 cups (6 oz) spinach, chopped (optional)
• 3 vegetarian hot dogs, sliced thin (optional)
• ½ cup breadcrumbs, or
• 1 slice whole wheat bread, “pulsed”
• Parmesan cheese

Method

1. Preheat oven to 350º
2. Cook elbow macaroni in a medium size pot until soft (al dente), then drain.
3. Sauté the onions and garlic for a minute in oil or butter
4. Add the flour and cook for a minute, stirring constantly until coated
5. Rapidly add warmed milk, a little at a time, constantly stirring to make a white sauce
6. Add cheese (grated or cut in chunks), stirring until it melts in thoroughly
7. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add spinach and let cook for another 5 minutes.
8. Put macaroni and hot dogs in a greased casserole dish
9. Pour in the cheese mixture and mix thoroughly
10. Sprinkle breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese across the top
11. Bake for 15 minutes