Horn & Hardart's Macaroni and Cheese Casserole

Takes a little time, but worth it!

1/2 lb macaroni 2 tsp butter 2 tsp flour 1/2 tsp salt dash white pepper 1 1/2 cup milk

1 TBL light cream 1 cup cheddar cheese 1/2 cup diced tomatoes      (canned or fresh) dash red pepper 1/2 tsp sugar

Cook macaroni until done. Heat oven to 400. Melt butter in double boiler, gradually blending in flour, salt and peppers. When mixture is smooth -- add milk and cream. Cook for a few minutes until it thickens. Add cheese, continually stirring and until it melts. Remove from heat, add sugar and tomatoes to cream sauce. Pour over macaroni in buttered casserole dish. Bake until top is slightly brown. Perhaps you had to grow with Horn & Hardarts to appreciate this dish, but I do remember that when we went to Horn & Hardarts as a special treat, it was the one thing I would always have. Horn & Hardarts was called an automat. Food was displayed behind small glass doors with a coin slot next to each door. You would plop in the right amount of change for each particular dish and the door would open! More about Horn & Hardart