We suggest steering clear of long, thin, perfect-for-twirling varieties like spaghetti, fettuccini, and linguini.
In fact, one of the easiest mistakes when making macaroni and cheese is using the wrong kind of pasta. The final step in mastering–or messing up–this recipe is the pasta. (Add spice with caution.) The superstar ingredient is, of course, the cheese, and after the Southern Living Test Kitchen tasted, tested, and retested, they found their winner: Cracker Barrel's extra sharp Cheddar cheese. Then it's time to bring together the seasoning, which is just-the-right sprinkling of salt, red pepper, and black pepper. Let's start with the sauce, which gets its smooth and creaminess from the combination of butter, flour, and two cups of milk. That powdery cheese has no place on our Southern tables. But what if we told you that this famous and delicious dish–loved and requested by both kids and adults alike–can come together in under one hour and in three easy-to-follow steps? Sounds almost too good to be true.The secret to this comfort food is selecting the key ingredients.
