Easy peasy cheesy sauce!

"The 10 Worst Foods to Eat"

"High Fructose Syrup is Making You Fat"

"Don't Eat Any Food Ever, Because It's Horrible for You"

These kinds of articles are all over Facebook these days, it seems, and yes, I read most of them. Some of them are eye-opening, and some are a little overwhelming, but the common thread throughout all of them seems pretty simple: We need to start eating more natural, whole foods, and less processed junk.

With that said, some of the things on the no-no lists are things that are marketed to kids DAILY: hot dogs, milk, and, of course, macaroni and cheese. And, while there are definitely healthy options out there, I'm sure that when most kids think about macaroni and cheese, they think about the blue box of good ol' orange-y powder "cheese" And don't get me wrong... Ryan and I have been known to whip up a box of the stuff from time to time!

Along with everything else, there's nothing wrong with a little blue-box-mac-&-cheese in moderation; However, I'm AMAZED at how easy it is to make homemade cheese sauce that is as delicious with pasta as it is with veggies. This has become our go-to sauce, as Jett will gobble it up with whole wheat pasta or broccoli.

So, without further ado, here's how I make it:

 - Add 2 tablespoons of butter to a saucepan heated to medium-ish heat

 - After the butter has melted, add a couple tablespoons flour, stir until the butter and flour are combined, about a minute or so

 - Add 1 to 1 1/2 cups of milk in small increments, whisking the mixture as the milk is added

 - Add milk until the desired consistency is reached, season with salt and pepper

 - Add 1 to 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheese (I usually use sharp cheddar) and whisk until the sauce is smooth

Voila! Sounds easy, huh? One thing to note is that you can adjust the levels of everything... I always have to play around with my flour and milk amounts to get to a smooth - and not too thick - consistency. You could also add some garlic powder, red pepper flakes, etc. - Whatever flavors your family prefers!

Enjoy! 

XO