Heaven in a glass dish. Make all your flatmates jealous with the supreme flavour of your creation
This week, I had an absolute hankering for a Mac and Cheese, but was left crushed when I had none of the basic ingredients to make a nice one… I spent most of my Monday thinking about going shopping, and what I needed to ensure that I would enjoy my dinner.
Furthermore, how much cheese do I want in my dish – made of 50% cheese? What kind of cheese? What types of cheese? What flavours of cheese? All of these crucial questions were running through my mind during my lectures. Once I had finished at 6pm, I met with my flatmates for our pilgrimage to Big Tesco, the best shop in all of Portsmouth to ensure that I could make my dinner. I traipsed down all the aisles to find what I needed. The cheese.
Eventually, I came across the mozzarella balls, only 59p each! Of course, I grabbed two! one for the cheesy stretch for the sauce and one for the top, definitely not for snacking on. As a university student – and in this financial climate – cooking big meals such as Mac and Cheese is a great idea, considering it is cheap, cheerful and easy to make. Plus, in the case of mine; it will make all your flatmates jealous with the supreme flavour of your creation.
As soon as I returned, I melted the butter and cooked out the flour, using the milk that my parents had lovingly bought me for my adventures at uni. Then, dear reader, came the cheese. A half pack of extra mature cheddar and a full ball of mozzarella melted into the sauce, becoming thick and creamy and oh so cheesy; my reward for a hard day of work. After cooking the pasta and combining the two, the smells and the flavours were bouncing off all the walls, it was heaven in a glass dish. Once it was suitably crispified in the oven, it was time to serve. Which, typically, came with a side of salad.
When it came time to plate up, the vultures that I live with came down and swooped upon my creation, and the unified sounds of pleased teenagers echoed through the room. It was safe to say that my cheap and cheerful dinner was ready to tackle the world, ready to be consumed by those who wanted good food.
R E C I P E
Ingredients:
· Butter
· Flour
· Milk
· Salt
· Pepper
· Cheese – as flavoursome as you desire, I like strong and melty cheeses here
· Pasta – any shape
· Ham – optional but a good way to get your food to stretch further
· Bagged salad – also optional but oh so good
Method
Melt the butter in a pan whilst you cook your pasta, making sure to stir it so it doesn’t burn. When melted, add in your flour.
Once the smell of flour has disappeared, add your milk a bit at a time, until you have a smooth paste of your desired thickness.
Once it is smooth, add your seasonings and your cheese, making sure to stir so it doesn’t burn.
Add the ham or any other additions that you would like. Mix pasta and sauce.
Put in an oven-safe dish and bake for around 20 mins on a high heat.
Serve however you would like it.
Do you have a recipe you'd like to share? Or some shopping tips from the Big Tesco? Please let us know and we'll publish them out to fellow students.
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