Grandmother Aurora's Mexican Mac n' Cheese

My grandmother, Aurora Padilla Rux, made the most amazing macaroni and cheese! She died before I was born but my mother learned how to make it from her and in turn passed it on to me. I'm now sharing it because it's so easy and delicious.

Aurora was quite a character. Born in Valencia, Spain, she married my grandfather, Wladisaw Benjamin Rostok, a Polish Jewish refugee from the Russian czar's army, in Spain and my father José was born in Spain, then the family immigrated to Tampico, Mexico where my grandfather had an import shop. After my grandfather died in a typhoid epidemic, Aurora and my father moved to live with an uncle, also a Spanish emigré, in Colima, Mexico, where she learned to make this mac n' cheese. My grandmother and the rest of the family still living in Mexico then moved to Texas, where I was born. Aurora later married a wonderful old German farmer named Otto Rux, my stepgrandfather.


Here's the recipe:

Mexican Mac n' Cheese
Serves 4
1 lb. of large elbow macaroni
2-3 small cans of tomato sauce
1/2 lb. Monterey Jack or Cheddar cheese, grated
1/2 onion and 1 garlic clove (optional)

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. If using onion and garlic, put them in the boiling water and add the macaroni. Cook macaroni as package directs. Drain and if using onion and garlic, remove the onion and garlic and discard. Return drained macaroni to pot. Over low heat, add the cans of tomato sauce and then the shredded cheese, a little at a time, stirring with a wooden spoon until the cheese melts. I always add a little freshly ground black pepper as the finishing touch. So easy! And REALLY good. Try it yourself and let me know what you think.

Here's to Granmother Aurora!

Happy Eating!

Kristina