My Mom's Best Mac and Cheese

I grew up on this stuff and it is the absolute best mac and cheese you'll ever taste. It's my mom's recipe and I make it exactly the way she does. It's creamy and very cheesy. I've added chunks of smoked sausage or cubes of cheese to it too. I hope you like my mom's mac & cheese as much as I do.

• Ready In: 45 mins
• Serves: 4-6

Ingredients

• 1  cup  uncooked macaroni
• 3  tablespoons plain flour
• 3  tablespoons butter
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 2  tablespoons  dried onion flakes
• 1 (5 ounce) can evaporated milk
• 5  ounces water
• 3⁄4 cup  whole milk or 3⁄4 cup low-fat milk
• 1 1⁄2-2  cups  shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Boil and drain macaroni per package instructions.
3. Meanwhile, melt butter in medium saucepan. Add flour and salt. Cook just until mixture is lightly golden brown. Stir in dried onion (add more or less to your taste).
4. Combine evaporated milk, water and milk in a measuring cup. You should have 2 cups of milk mixture. Stir into flour mixture to thicken, slow enough to avoid making lumps.
5. Heat mixture not quite to boiling.
6. Add 1 cup cheddar and stir until cheese is melted.
7. Cook sauce until slightly thickened (similar consistency to gravy).
8. Stir in cooked macaroni.
9. Pour into greased 8 or 9-inch baking dish.
10. Sprinkle with desired amount cheese.
11. Bake for approximately 30 minutes until it's lightly browned and bubbly.