Macaroni & Cheese

This is my mother's kid pleasing homemade version of Kraft macaroni and cheese. Culinary knowledge time: the sauce is a simple derivation on an Escoffier mother sauce. It starts with a roux of butter and flour, which turns into a Bechamel/white sauce with the addition of milk. You finish it with shredded cheese, making it a Mornay sauce.

Macaroni & Cheese
serves 6

Cook 2-3 cups of dry macaroni noodles of your choice in boiling salted water (I prefer shells). While pasta water is coming to a boil...

In a stove-to-oven safe pot, melt:
2 tbsp. butter

Add slowly, stirring or whisking to prevent lumps:
2 tbsp. flour (Wondra flour if you can get it, to avoid clumps)

Cook together for about 2 minutes to remove any "raw flour" flavor.

Warm in the microwave, then add slowly to the roux:
1.25 cups milk

Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Stir until the sauce begins to thicken.

Add and melt together until smooth:
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cups grated sharp cheddar

Drain the cooked pasta and fold it into the cheese sauce.  Transfer the pot to the oven (or pour the contents into an oven-safe vessel) and bake uncovered at 350 for 30 minutes.

Sauteed Sugar Snap Peas with Radishes

This recipe comes to me from Bon Appetit (April 2004) via Smitten Kitchen (July 2008), and of course I've changed it as well, because I couldn't find dill seeds ANYWHERE.  Even Whole Foods disappointed - there was a slot for them in the spice rack next to the dill weed, but it was empty, mocking me.  Coriander seeds made an excellent substitution, however, and I have no complaints.

The radishes show a strong tendency to stick together in large stacks while cooking, so determined and attentive stirring is required.


Sauteed Sugar Snap Peas with Radishes
serves 6

Saute until shallots begin to caramelize, about 5 minutes:
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 cup thinly sliced shallots

Add and saute 2 minutes:
12 ounces sugar snap peas, strings removed

Add and saute 3 minutes:
2 cups radishes, thinly sliced (about 1 large bunch)

Add and stir for 1 minute:
1/4 cup orange juice
1 teaspoon whole coriander seeds

Off the heat, add:
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
salt and pepper, to taste