Continuing whisking until the milk thickens, about 2 minutes, and then add the cheese, stirring until it melts completely. Whisk to create a smooth paste, and then stir in the milk. Melt butter in a pan and add flour to make a roux. You want it to be just al dente my elbow macaroni took only 5 minutes! With the pesto prepped, it comes together in a flash: To make it especially quick to assemble, blend up a batch of pesto ahead of time, or use store bought pesto in a pinch. Maria’s homemade mac and cheese recipe is SUPER easy to make, taking about 20 minutes from start to finish. When I got the book, I already had mac and cheese on my mind, and this Pesto Havarti Homemade Mac and Cheese recipe looked so creamy and delicious that I couldn’t resist giving it a try. And last (but definitely not least) you’re going to want to get this one for Maria’s amazing array of cookie and dessert recipes (think Key Lime Bars, Peanut Butter Pie with Cookie Crust, Deep Dish Brownie Cookies, and more!). Though the book isn’t vegetarian, it includes an entire section of vegetarian main dishes, as well as veggie side dishes, salads, and soups. I’ve been friends with Maria of Two Peas and Their Pod for years so I couldn’t be more excited for her book to arrive! It’s full of nourishing, easy-to-make recipes that are all family-friendly, plus tips for meal prepping, grocery shopping, and cooking with kids. Luckily for me, the Two Peas & Their Pod Cookbook just came out. And though that too-yellow, powdered variety of mac and cheese is now a thing of the past for me, I still enjoy a good homemade mac and cheese on occasion.

Growing up, my sister and I devoured mac and cheese out of the box.

As I was planning what to post this fall, I realized that I’d never shared an easy, homemade mac and cheese recipe.

How many cups of mac and cheese for 100