On Tuesday (St. Patrick’s Day) our Facebook fans were asked to vote for the “green” recipe they’d prefer out of three options:
And the winning green food is…Roasted Green Beans!
This recipe comes from The Amish Family Cookbook by bestselling author Jerry Eicher and his wife, Tina:
What’s your favorite way to serve green beans?
Amish cooks are fond of using Velveeta cheese because it’s shelf stable. And it makes sense when a household lacks refrigeration, because Velveeta can be stored on pantry shelves right alongside all the home-canned fruits and vegetables that Amish women process to feed their families over the winter months. So, even though it doesn’t seem “Amish” or “old-fashioned,” Velveeta cheese is a staple in many homes. (Although, with the advent of propane or gas-powered refrigerators, using Velveeta is more for taste than it used to be.)
The recipe I’m going to share with you today is one that I got years ago from an Amish Mennonite friend, but I’ve changed it—instead of using Velveeta cheese I now use cheddar cheese, which I think tastes much better. But if you like Velveeta, feel free to substitute—use 2 cups Velveeta cheese, cut into small cubes. It might take longer to fully melt into the cheese sauce, so turn the heat to low and keep stirring until completely melted.
One more note: This recipe easily serves 8-12 people, so feel free to cut the recipe in half (in fact, that’s what I did for the photos that accompany this post) and bake it in an 8 x 8-inch baking dish instead.
Homemade Macaroni and Cheese
½ cup Panko crumbs (you can substitute bread crumbs if you don’t have Panko)
½ cup (1 stick) butter, divided
4 cups uncooked elbow macaroni noodles
¼ cup flour
3 cups whole milk
1½ tsp. dry mustard
4 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. pepper
* * *
Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter and, in a small bowl and using a fork, mix melted butter with the Panko crumbs, mixing until completely incorporated; set aside for now.
Cook macaroni according to package directions—don’t overcook! Drain noodles.
While the noodles are cooking you can make the cheese sauce as follows:
Using 2 tablespoons of the butter (which has been softened to room temperature for easy spreading), grease the bottom and sides of a 9 x 13-inch baking dish; set aside for now.
In a large pot, melt ¼ cup (½ stick) butter over medium-low heat and then sprinkle in the flour, whisking as you do so. Turn the heat to about medium (or a wee bit higher) and cook the roux, whisking all the while, for 1 minute. Pour in the milk, whisking while you pour. Add the mustard, salt, and pepper and continue whisking until the roux boils and thickens slightly. Reduce the heat to your lowest setting, add the cheese, and stir to melt.
Combine the cheese sauce and cooked macaroni noodles; mix gently but thoroughly.
Note: You can eat the macaroni as is, but I like the Panko crumbs on top, so if you’re in agreement, read on.
Pour the macaroni and cheese into the buttered baking dish. Top with the buttered Panko crumbs and then broil until the Panko crumbs are lightly browned. You can also refrigerate the macaroni and cheese and heat later. When ready to bake, remove from the refrigerator, cover with aluminum foil and bake in a preheated 350º oven about 25 minutes or until bubbly. You can finish by removing the foil and placing it under the broiler until the crumb topping turns light brown and crisps up.
* * *
This is a very kid-friendly dish, but adults like it too. Whenever I make my homemade macaroni and cheese I’m sure to get compliments on the meal. And with the topping of Panko crumbs, deliciously golden and crisp, it’s a dish you can even serve company!
Enjoy and may you and your loved ones be richly blessed today and always.
Georgia Varozza, author of the popular Homestyle Amish Kitchen Cookbook (nearly 60,000 copies sold), enjoys teaching people how to prepare and preserve healthy foods, live simply, and get the most from what they have. She works in publishing and lives in a small Oregon community. Visit her online at www.georgiaplainandsimple.blogspot.com.
On Monday our Facebook fans were asked to vote for the recipe they’d prefer out of three options. Due to the cold winter weather, this month’s recipe options were centered on spring, warmth, and sunshine:
And the winner is…Chilly Day Stew! Mmmmm.
Here’s the recipe straight from The Authentic Amish Cookbook (a collection of recipes from the Amish community in Evart, Michigan, curated by Norman and Marlena Miller):
A bowl of Amish Chilly Day Stew sounds quite appealing for a late-winter’s evening, wouldn’t you agree?
On Wednesday our Facebook fans were asked to vote for the recipe they’d prefer out of three options. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner (as in, tomorrow!), this month’s recipe options featured sweet desserts you can make for loved ones (and yourself, of course!):
And the winner is…Lemon Blondies! Yum, yum!
Enjoy this recipe from The Amish Baking Cookbook by Georgia Varozza and Kathleen Kerr:
What sweet treat do you traditionally indulge in for this special holiday?
On Tuesday our Facebook fans were asked to vote for the recipe they’d prefer out of three options. With the release of the first book in a new series by Jerry Eicher in February, this month’s recipe options featured characters/stories from some of Jerry’s other series:
And the winner is…Ella’s Beef Casserole! Sounds like a hearty dish for a potluck or big family dinner, don’t you think?
You can find the casserole recipe (taken from The Amish Family Cookbook by Jerry & Tina Eicher) on our Facebook or Pinterest pages.
And don’t forget that Miriam’s Secret, the first in the “Land of Promise” series, is releasing in a little over a week!
Which book/series by Jerry Eicher is your favorite?
On Monday our Facebook fans were asked to vote for the recipe they’d prefer out of three options. ‘Tis the season for Christmas baking, so the options this month focused on some sweet holiday treats:
And the winner is…Christmas Sugar Cookies! Something simple and perfect for gift-giving or bringing to family gatherings.
Here is the cookie recipe, taken from The Homestyle Amish Kitchen Cookbook by Georgia Varozza:
You can find the recipe for Christmas Cake in the same cookbook (The Homestyle Amish Kitchen Cookbook), and the recipe for Susan’s Christmas Buckeyes in The Amish Family Cookbook by Jerry & Tina Eicher.
Will you be baking some cookies in the next couple of weeks? How do you like to decorate them?
On Monday our Facebook fans were asked to vote for the recipe they’d prefer out of three options. Since Thanksgiving is tomorrow, the options this month are centered on what you can do with your turkey leftovers:
And the winner is…Turkey Supreme! That name does have a certain ring to it, wouldn’t you agree?
Here is the turkey supreme recipe, taken from The Homestyle Amish Kitchen Cookbook by Georgia Varozza:
You can find the other two recipes in the same cookbook, which is currently only $1.99 in ebook format.
So after you’ve feasted on Thursday, enjoy trying something new with those leftovers! Have a simply wonderful Thanksgiving, Amish readers.
On Wednesday our Facebook fans were asked to vote for the recipe they’d prefer out of three options. With the arrival of the harvest and the great fruits and vegetables it brings, the theme for this month’s recipe choices was comfort food featuring seasonal favorites:
Although it was a close race, the winner is…Corn Chowder!
Here is the corn chowder recipe, taken from The Homestyle Amish Kitchen Cookbook by Georgia Varozza:
This is the perfect time of year for something warm, savory, and comforting. Tell us, will you and your loved ones be enjoying a hot bowl of corn chowder this season?
On Monday our Facebook fans were asked to vote for the recipe they’d prefer out of three options. With the busyness of early autumn and the need for a good start to the day, the theme for this month’s recipe choices was breakfast:
Determining a winner was much more difficult this time, as there seemed to be nearly an even split between those who wanted coffee cake and those who wanted casserole. So we’re giving both recipes to you!
Below is the recipe for Amish Coffee Cake. The recipe for Stovetop Breakfast Casserole can be found on our Facebook page. Both are taken from The Homestyle Amish Kitchen Cookbook by Georgia Varozza.
What’s on your breakfast menu, friends?
Yesterday our Facebook fans were asked to vote for the recipe they’d prefer out of three options. With some delicious fruit currently in season, the theme for this month’s recipe choices was fruit-filled sweets:
And the winner (by a landslide) is…Fresh Peach Muffins!
Here is the recipe, taken from The Amish Baking Cookbook by Georgia Varozza and Kathleen Kerr:
Will Fresh Peach Muffins end up on your table this week? What other peach-filled treats do you enjoy?
