Did you know?Macaroni is a perversion of the Italian word maccherone and its plural maccheroni. Its etymology is debatable. Some scholars consider it related to Greek μακαρία (makaria), a kind of barley broth[1][2]. Others think it comes from Italian ammaccare, "to bruise or crush" (referring to the crushing of the wheat to make the pasta), which comes, in turn, from Latin macerare[3], meaning 1) to soak in liquid, to soften, or 2) to torment, to mortify, to distress (the term also giving us the English macerate).Ingredients1/2 pound elbow macaroni
1 1/2 cups milk
1 1/2 teaspoons powdered mustard
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon salt
Few drops of hot pepper sauce
3 1/2 tablespoons butter
3 1/2 cups grated sharp Cheddar cheese (about 3/4 pound)
1/2 cup fresh bread crumbs
1/2 teaspoon paprika
MethodPreheat the oven to 350F. Butter a shallow 2 quart baking dish. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the macaroni until tender but still firm, about 8 minutes. Drain well.
Meanwhile, in a small heavy saucepan, bring the milk to a simmer over moderate heat. Removed from the heat and stir in the powdered mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt and hot pepper sauce. Set the seasoned milk aside.
Transfer the macaroni to a medium bowl. Add 1 1/2 tablespoons of the butter and the melted cheese and mix well. Stir in 3 cups of the Cheddar cheese. Spread the macaroni evenly in the buttered baking dish. Pour the seasoned milk over the macaroni and sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup grated cheese.
In a small skillet, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter over moderate heat. Stire in the bread crumbs until well coated. Scatter the buttered crumbs evenly over the macaroni and sprinkle with the paprika.
Bake for 30 minutes, or until the macaroni is bubbling and lightly colored. Transfer to the broiler and broil about 6 inches from the heat until the bread crumbs are golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes.
TIP: Do not cook macroni completely in the boiling water. Let it cook in the microwave too with the mixture.
What is it?Paprika is a spice made from the grinding of dried Capsicum (e.g. bell pepper). In many European countries, the word paprika also refers to bell peppers themselves. The seasoning is used in many cuisines to add color and flavor to dishes.
