Grandma Lynn’s mac & cheese

Dolores Hans
MSMU class of 2025

(5/2025) For this recipe you’ll need a box of Cavatappi pasta, 2 cups of shredded Colby Jack cheese, 2 cups of shredded mild cheddar cheese, a cup of milk, squeezable butter, and a bunch of different seasonings including chili powder, garlic salt, and regular table salt.

First, boil a box of cavatappi pasta, and before you ask, yes it has to be cavatappi, it holds the cheese the best. Make sure you generously salt your pasta water. After your pasta is boiled, drain the water but leave ¼ cup of the pasta water. In the pot with the pasta and remaining pasta water, add a cup of milk, 1 cup shredded colby jack cheese, and 1 cup shredded mild cheddar cheese. Then, add a little chili powder and garlic salt. Mix to combine. In a baking dish, layer some of the pasta, then some of the leftover shredded cheese, followed by a drizzle of squeezable butter. Repeat the pattern of pasta and cheese, but this time put a layer of panko breadcrumbs and then the butter. Make sure whatever milk is left in the pot gets dumped into the dish. Cover with tin foil and bake in the oven at 350 degrees for an hour. In the last 20 minutes remove the tin foil to add a nice crisp on top.

This mac & cheese recipe is inspired by my Grandma Lynn, who has been making it for as long as I can remember. Every Easter and Christmas when we would go to visit her there would always be her famous mac & cheese. Each year my Grandma Lynn and Grandpa George would take each of my siblings and I (separately) to their house for a special weekend filled with stuff we want to do and foods we want to eat. Every year I request this dish. Her recipe is a little different than the one I’ve given you; this one is adapted a little to be more of my own.

Some of my favorite memories of going on these special weekend trips were seeing the live action Beauty and the Beast in theaters, doing many crafts and puzzles, and going to this one restaurant in her area which I can no longer remember the name of, but every time we go there my grandma always asks them for a side bowl full of pickles because she knows just how much I love them.

The last time I went to their house for a special weekend was the summer going into my first year of college. This time though, my brother and I decided to combine our weekends. Our grandparents gave us a list of potential "things to do," which included horseback riding, the movies, the zoo, an arcade, and housework that they would pay us for. The housework ended up being my favorite part. We spent time in the garden and painted the basement and all the while we were all singing along to "Arthur’s Theme" by Christopher Cross. We would play board games and eat ice cream at night. Most of the games we played were card games, including Monopoly Deal, which is like monopoly but in card form. With each one of us being both highly competitive yet also supportive of other people winning, the games were twice as much fun. At one point we started talking in really poor British accents and making up words! It doesn’t get better than that.

My Grandma Lynn and Grandpa George have a special place in my life. They are incredibly generous and supportive people, and are always interested in what’s going on in your life, what makes you happy, and especially the other people in your life. When they met my boyfriend the first time, they had invited us for a trip to Longwood Gardens, a place that is very special to us. They loved getting to know him and showing him around, and ever since then they have planned trips to see us or for us to see them. Together we have all gone to Longwood Gardens a few times, as well as the Renaissance Fair, and, my favorite, the Thurmont Color Fest.

My grandparents aren’t Catholic, but they have always respected and admired my faith and how it fuels my life. They love to hear about the work I do for others, and it creates another sort of connection as they also devote themselves to charity. Most people would not bring up a topic if they knew it was not something they shared, but they have never hesitated to hear about where my spiritual life has taken me.

They are now retired and make it a priority to go on road trips and visit so many beautiful places. Last summer they went all over America and still made it to both of my brothers’ weddings, even though for the second one they had Covid so had to leave right after the ceremony. But, no matter what, they were there to support them, just as they always are. I remember their wedding, not many details but I remember loving my dress and I remember the pool. My Grandma Lynn reminds me a lot of myself, and, ironically, my boyfriend reminds me of my Grandpa George in his own goofy way. I can see their marriage being a lot like mine will be, especially when Grandma Lynn is crabby and Grandpa George still teases her and makes jokes.

This mac and cheese is a staple in my house and will be in my future home. My grandkids will come over and they’ll want "Grandma Lynn’s mac and cheese". What I love most about this recipe is that it’s more than just macaroni smothered in cheese sauce; it’s lighter and more satisfying because the milk and butter make it creamy while the cheese melts perfectly to make the dish cohesive, but it’s not a basic cheese sauce. The absolute best part though, is the breadcrumbs on top; golden brown and a little crispy, a good texture and flavor added to the otherwise soft meal.

I hope you enjoy making and eating this meal as much as my family does.