Tonight's Dinner: Trailer mac & cheese

My son loves macaroni and cheese and I'm not talking about the kind that comes out of the little blue box. I'm talking about homemade, from scratch mac & cheese -- and I've made several different kinds using all sorts of different cheeses and herbs. The one thing I've never done, though, is added meat and potatoes as Better Homes and Gardens suggested.

Now before you start thinking I added prime rib and garlic mashed potatoes to my macaroni and cheese, I'm going to burst your bubble. When I say meat and potatoes, what I mean is chopped up hot dogs and potato chips. I mean, do you really think a toddler is going to have any interest in mashed potatoes and prime rib? Of course not! But hot dogs, potato chips and mac & cheese? That's a slam dunk any night of the week.

Trailer mac & cheese

Serves 6

Ingredients:

• 2-1/2 cups milk
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 8 ounces macaroni
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 4 hot dogs, chopped
• 1/2 cup crushed potato chips

Directions:

1. In a medium saucepan, heat milk over medium heat until heated through, but do not boil.
2. In a 3-quart saucepan, boil the macaroni according to the package directions.
3. While the macaroni cooks, melt the butter over medium-high heat in a large saucepan. Once melted, whisk in the flour until creamy. Gradually whisk the heated milk into the butter mixture a half cup at a time until thick. Gradually whisk in the cheddar cheese until the mixture is smooth and the cheese is melted.
4. Stir in the hot dogs and continue to cook until the hot dogs are heated through. Stir in the macaroni and cook until heated through, about five minutes. Spoon into bowls, top with potato chips and serve.

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