How to make baked macaroni casserole

This is one of my family recipes on how to makes macaroni casserole, or some may think of it as baked macaroni. It's delicious.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 3/4 lb. of elbows or ziti noodles
• 1 1/2 can of evaporated can milk
• 32 oz. of colby monterey jack cheese
• cream cheese
• large pot filled with water
• salt (optional)
• 9" x 13" casserole dish
• aluminum foil

1. Start boiling the water. for added flavor, you can add salt to season the water. Also go ahead and preheat the oven to 400 or 425 degrees (Varies between ovens.)

2. 
    

   If you bought the 32 oz. of cheese in big blocks, than you have to cut them down into small squares (1/2 to 1 in.). If you bought the cubed version from the store already, than you're straight.

3. 
    

   Make sure you leave the cream cheese out as soon as you start boiling the water so that it can be close to room temperature by the time you use it.

4. 
    

   As soon as water starts boiling, enter the macaroni noodles into the boiling water.

5. As the noodles boil, periodically check the texture of the noodles, and when it gets soft enough, then turn stove down to about 2 or 3, then drain macaroni. (This may take about 12 to 13 min., but if varies between different stoves.)

6. 
    

   As soon as the macaroni is drained, incorporate the cheese, cream cheese, and the milk. (Remember, the stove is still on, but on low.)

7. As you stir the contents in the pot and all cheese is melted, then you stir it until the mix is white and extra creamy. If it's not liquid enough to fall off the spoon, then add more milk until it's able to do so.

8. 
    

   Pour contents into the casserole dish, cover with aluminum foil, and enter into the preheated oven for about an hour. (As you look in the oven through the casserole dish, you should see the bottom or the middle bubbling.)

9. After an hour or so, take the aluminum foil cover of and leave dish in the oven until the top of the casserole turns slightly brown. (This may take up to 45min. depending on your oven.)

10. 
     

    After the dish is done, let it sit for about 5-10 min. so that it can cool off. Then enjoy. This dish is great for birthdays and Thanksgiving.

Tips & Warnings

• The most crucial part of this process is how creamy the mix is. That the key to the great taste.
• When mixing the contents in the pot with the stove on low, be mindful that the stove is still on, and the bottom of your mix can still burn.

[Teachforever]

on 11/19/2008 Great article Man! I enjoyed it.*****5