From Montana to Memphis: The Impact of St. Jude and Grandma’s Mac & Cheese

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, is an amazing place that helps kids with cancer and other critical illnesses from all over the country, including kids from right here in Montana.

One of the greatest things about St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is that families never pay a dime. The hospital covers everything from surgeries and medicines to travel and places to stay. This means that families can focus all their energy on helping their child get better, without worrying about the financial side of things.

At St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, it's not just the doctors who go above and beyond for the kids - all employees work to uplift very sick children and their families, often in quiet ways that may go unnoticed.

A Heartwarming Example of Unwavering Care

One touching example of how above and beyond the team at St. Jude goes is the story of a little boy who, despite being so ill that he couldn't eat, captured the hearts of the staff. After exhausting all efforts to get the little boy to eat something, the staff asked the boy what he would like to eat. To their surprise, the boy requested his grandma's homemade macaroni and cheese.

Spurred by hope, the chef at St. Jude reached out to the boy's grandma in the middle of the night to get her recipe. The joy and relief when the boy finally ate was overwhelming and just goes to show the extraordinary lengths St. Jude goes to for their children.

Share in the Healing Power of Grandma’s Love

Beth, from Home Stories A to Z, visited St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and learned about the story of grandma's macaroni and cheese. Despite not having the recipe, she was deeply moved by the little boy’s journey to wholeness and determined to get Grandma’s Mac and Cheese recipe from the chef, she did!

Grandma's Homemade Mac and Cheese Recipe

Ingredients:
3 T plain dry breadcrumbs
1 tsp extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 tsp paprika
1 3/4 C whole milk, divided
3 T all-purpose flour
2 C grated extra-sharp Cheddar cheese (6 oz)
1 C fontina cheese
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt, or to taste
Freshly ground pepper to taste
8 ounces (2 cups) elbow macaroni or penne

Directions:
1. Put a large pot of lightly salted water on to boil. Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat an 8-inch square (2-quart) baking dish with cooking spray.

2. Mix breadcrumbs, oil, and paprika in a small bowl.

3. Heat 1 1/2 cups milk in a large heavy saucepan over medium-high heat until steaming. Whisk remaining 1/4 cup milk and flour in a small bowl until smooth; add to the hot milk and cook, whisking constantly, until the sauce simmers and thickens, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in Cheddar until melted. Stir in fontina cheese, nutmeg, salt and pepper.

Cook pasta until al dente, or until not quite tender. It will continue to cook during baking. Drain and add to the cheese sauce; mix well. Spread the pasta mixture in the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with the breadcrumb mixture. Bake until bubbly and golden, 25 to 30 minutes.

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Make a Difference Today – Become a Partner in Hope

Would you like to be part of this journey of hope for the children and families at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital? By becoming a Partner In Hope, you’ll join a community of caring individuals dedicated to supporting children battling cancer and life-threatening diseases.

Pledge just $19 a month on your credit or debit card and you'll receive a This Shirt Saves Lives t-shirt so that you can show the world you're a champion for kids and you'll help ensure that families will never receive a bill from St. Jude.

If you’re ready to become a Partner in Hope, call 800-372-4999 or make a secure online donation here!