Macaroni and loooooots of cheese

If I were to choose one of the most American dishes - I would definately go for mac & cheese. The ultimate comfort food loved by all generations. What is surprising - the origins of it are undoubtedly Italian. There is a recipe in Latin coming from the thirteenth century cookbook Liber de Coquina. De lasanis, as it is called there, are handmade and fresh pasta sheets cut in two-inch squares and tossed with grated cheese, most probably Parmesan. 

The recipe evolved throughout years, but how did it become so important in USA?

Thomas Jefferson is very often the one who is credited for bringing it to America. He dined on the dish when he was in Italy and loved it so much, that he took a pasta maker back with him. When his wife died, Mary Rudolph took over hostess duties at the White House. Some time later, she released a cookbook The Virginia Housewife that included a recipe for macaroni and Parmesan cheese.

However, the real popularity growth happened in 1937 (at the end of the Great Depression), when Kraft Foods introduced their Kraft Macaroni and Cheese Dinner. It is a quick, filling and inexpensive way to family, as advertised "the housewife's best friend, a nourishing one pot meal". 8 million boxes were sold in the first year only. 

Task: Prepare your own Mac & Cheese using this quick and easy recipe below:

Ingredients: 

 Approx. 250g (8 oz) of elbow macaroni

1/4 cup of butter

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

black pepper to taste

2 cups of milk

2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, 8 minutes. Drain.
2. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat; stir in flour, salt, and pepper until smooth, about 5 minutes. Slowly pour milk into butter-flour mixture while continuously stirring until mixture is smooth and bubbling, about 5 minutes. Add Cheddar cheese to milk mixture and stir until cheese is melted, 2 to 4 minutes.
3. Fold macaroni into cheese sauce until coated.