As you may know, I recently visited New York on my Honeymoon. During the trip, which was over Christmas, Fabio gifted me Amanda Hesser’s Cooking for Mr Latte. I know it normally isn’t important but he bought the book from one of my most favourite bookshops in New York, the independent booksellers, McNally Jackson (52 Prince St, NYC). It came all lovingly gift-wrapped by the bookshop, and I was so happy to receive it as I didn’t really know who Amanda Hesser was (I know!!) but now I do, and I’m glad as she has some pretty funny stories to tell from when she wrote for the New York Times, of which her book explains and, each chapter ends with a few recipes. Now bringing back to the topic of this blog, I recently tried one of these recipes; her Grandma Helen’s Mac & Cheese.
This traditional Mac & Cheese has no fancy bits, it is what it is meant to be: pure comfort food.
Ingredients
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp flour
2 cups milk
1 1/2 cups of grated Monterey Jack Cheese + extra 1/4 cup for topping (I couldn’t find this whole, so I opted for breaking up the Monterey jack ready sliced cheese)
3 1/2 cups cooked macaroni
1 cup of smalls cubes of cooked ham
1 cup Italian plum tomatoes
3 1/2 cups of coarse breadcrumbs (use stale bread cut into cubes – I used a stale baguette)
Black pepper (ground or not – Hesser’s Grandma uses the already ground stuff)
Method
1. Pre-heat oven to 170 degrees. Butter a casserole dish.
2. Heat the butter in a saucepan until foamy
6. Stir in the cooked Macaroni and then the ham.
10. Dig in!!!
Hi there, I'm Jess. I'm an honest Mum of one who, like most Mothers, lives on coffee and cake. If like me, you want something relatable, useful or relaxing to read, then you're in the right place. Sit back with a cuppa and have a browse! You deserve it! 
