How To Cook Macaroni

Wipe the macaroni with a dry cloth and break into one-inch lengths. To each cup of macaroni allow 8 cups of water and two teaspoons salt. Drop the macaroni into the boiling water and let boil actively for from 20 minutes to one hour or more. It is important that the macaroni be kept in motion while cooking to prevent sticking. The macaroni should be soft enough that when pressed between the thumb and finger it will crush easily. When done turn into a colander and pour over it a dash of cold water. It is then ready for any preferred dressing.

How To Know Good Macaroni

The best quality of macaroni is of a creamy color, is elastic and does not split when broken into small pieces. The French and Italian brands of macaroni are superior to most American brands.

Egg Macaroni

1 cup milk 1/2 cup cream.

2 eggs.

1 teaspoon salt.

1 pint raw macaroni, broken into 1-inch lengths.

Cook the macaroni in boiling salted water according to directions given above.

Beat the eggs slightly and add the cream, milk and salt. Pour this over the macaroni and bake in a moderate oven until set.

Macaroni Au Gratin

1 1/2 cups macaroni broken into 1 inch lengths.

1 cup grated Yogurt or Neufchatel cheese.

1 cup bread crumbs 3 tablespoons butter 3 tablespoons flour.

2 cups milk.

1 teaspoon salt.

Cook macaroni in boiling salted water until tender; drain and pour over it a dash of cold water. Make a White Sauce of the last four ingredients and mix with the macaroni. Stir the grated cheese into the mixture. Turn into a baking, dish, cover with the bread crumbs and bake in a moderate oven until nicely browned. If desired, buttered crumbs may be used.

Macaroni With Corn

1 cup raw macaroni 1 cup corn 1 cup milk.

1 teaspoon sugar 1 tablespoon butter 1/2 teaspoon salt.

1 egg.

Cook the macaroni, which has been broken into one-inch lengths, in boiling salted water, drain and put into a baking dish. To the beaten egg add corn, milk and salt and pour over the macaroni. Set the baking dish in a pan of hot water. Bake in a moderate oven 20 minutes, or until set.

Macaroni With Tomato Sauce

2 quarts boiling water.

1 teaspoon salt.

3/4 cup macaroni broken into one-inch lengths Cook the macaroni until soft.

Prepare a Tomato Sauce as follows: Tomato Sauce.

1/2 can tomatoes or 1/2 cup condensed tomato 1 cup water.

1 tablespoon chopped onion.

2 tablespoons butter 2 tablespoons flour.

3/4 teaspoon salt.

Cook tomato, onion and water for 25 minutes, then strain. Melt the butter, add the flour and seasoning, and slowly the strained tomatoes. Cook until the starchy taste is gone, then add the macaroni and cook in the sauce 10 minutes. Same sauce may be served with rice.

If condensed tomato is used, add an additional cup of water.