Hello again

On Sunday night as partner was away on a stag weekend (a bunch of 50 somethings in France pretending that they are still 20 something) myself and QTs were alone for dinner so I made macaroni vegetable cheese bake. 

You need:

1 packet of macaroni

3 small peppers (ours were red and green) deseeded and sliced

Lots of mushrooms peeled and sliced.

400 mls milk

A generous slice of butter off a pat

Enough cornflour to make a roux with the butter

Salt, pepper,  1 teaspoon mustard powder

1 1/2 packs minimum of grated cheese (Strong cheddar is best) I think that is probably about 400g if you are grating your own

I never measure the ingredients for the sauce (apart from the milk) although  probably one should.

So I  fried the peppers and mushrooms and put to one side.  I also par boiled the macaroni in boiling water (nothing added).  Make sure you stir it as mine stuck into clumps.

The sauce is melt the butter with the salt, pepper and mustard powder (not too much seasonings, just enough to bring out flavours).  Add sufficient cornflour to mix into a ball.  Which is called a roux if I remember correctly from home economics 40 years ago.  Stir whilst the heat is on for a few minutes.  Then turn the heat off and beat the milk in with a whisk (to avoid lumps).  Turn heat back on to medium. Stir constantly until the mixture is just starting to thicken up then add about 3/4 of the cheese (just leave enough to sprinkle on top) .  Don’t let it get too thick.  Take off the heat.  Add in the pasta and fried veg.  Stir through well.  Place the mixture into a lasagne dish or similar.  Throw the rest of the cheese over the top.  Bake in pre-heated oven 190 degrees (mine is a fan so maybe a little higher for non-fan,  consult your guide) uncovered so that the cheese on top browns.

I served with green veg (frozen peas and fresh green beans)

There was way too much for the three of us (I am used to cooking for 5 or 6),  I think you could freeze the leftovers.