It’s nearly impossible to grow muscle mass in a caloric deficit, so when one wants to make gains they must eat: LOTS! I have been looking to put on a couple pounds of lean muscle, so I have been eating a ton & lifting heavy. Above is a progress picture with a brief description of changes that I’ve made to my diet & workout routine.
I loooooove mac & cheese, but I hate that artificial orangey cheese powder so I’ve been opting to make it from scratch. I’ve been working on perfecting a recipe for years, and I’ve finally gotten it. It’s even boyfriend approved which is saying a lot because he has the palette of a picky 10 year old. The best part about this recipe is that it only includes 6 ingredients and takes less than 15 minutes to make!
Ingredients
1 box of pasta (I chose Banza shells)
1/2 stick of butter
1/4 cup white flour
2 1/2 cups of 2% milk
3 cups of shredded cheese (I used a mac & cheese blend)
season salt to taste
The Making Part
In a pot, boil pasta until al dente. While the pasta is cooking we’re going to work on the cheese sauce. This is a generic cheese sauce & can be used to pour over anything! Cheesy oozy goodness makes every dish better. Okay back to the cooking. Put the half stick of butter into a large skillet on medium to low heat. Let the butter melt completely. Turn the heat to low. Add in the 1/4 cup of flour and consistently whisk for a few minutes. Add in the milk, a bit at a time, while still whisking. I forgot to tell you that this mac & cheese also provides a free arm workout! After a few more minutes of whisking you should have a thick, creamy white sauce. Now sprinkle in the cheese, a cup at a time. Then whisk away until it all melts. Add seasoning salt to taste. *this requires a cheese sauce taste test. try to restrain yourself from eating it all.* Strain the al dente pasta and add it into the cheesy mixture. Coat the pasta in the cheese and enjoy!
This mac & cheese reheats really well. I make a ton on the weekend and put it in Tupperwares for a week’s worth of lunches. Or you can just devour it all in one sitting. That’s your prerogative. If you try this recipe, comment below & let me know how you like it!
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