This is a main dish popular for several generations in the Sienkewicz family. It is a great comfort-food meal.

For four people.

2 cups elbow macaroni

4 ounces cream cheese (optional)

1 ca. 15 ounce container small curd cottage cheese

½ stick butter

1tbsp salt

Bring pot of water to a boil. Add salt. Add macaroni. When macaroni is at the desired softness, drain into a colander. In the pot in which the macaroni was cooked, melt butter on low hear. Add cottage cheese (and cream cheese, if desired) and stir until they start to warm and soften. Be careful not to heat the cheese at too high a temperature so that it clumps and toughens. The cheese should just be warm and creamy. Stir in macaroni and add freshly ground pepper.