Skip to main content

04-27 Quick Macaroni and Cheese

It would seem "un-American" to not have a mac and cheese recipe on here.
There are MANY recipes out there but this one doesn't have to be baked.
It is also very forgiving about which kinds of cheeses are used.
I acknowledge the only thing healthy it has going for it is that it isn't out of a box!
So when the craving hits, you can always add a fresh salad
.

Prepare desired amount of pasta - 1/2 - 1 lb for this recipe in salted boiling water
(small shapes like elbow, shell or rigatini work best)

Melt in saucepan:
2 T butter
Whisk in:
2 T flour
When roux is formed, whisk in slowly:
1 c milk, hot
Over medium heat, warm one minute, then add:
for extra creaminess add: 4 oz cream cheese/Neufchatel here (opt)
2 t Dijon mustard (opt)
1/2 t pepper
8 oz grated cheese: 1/2 sharp cheddar and one or two of Fontina, Gruyere, Jack, Dubliner, or Asiago.
(you should experiment and see which combination you like best)
Stir until cheeses are melted and sauce is thickened, add more milk if too thick.
Remove from heat, combine with cooked pasta to desired concentration.
Salt to taste.
If you want a crusty topping, place in oven baking dish and sprinkle top with
1/4 c bread crumbs
1/8 c Parmesan, grated
Then bake for about 15 minutes until top is golden and toasty.

If you are a purist, you won't want to add anything ... but chopped ham, peas, and all sorts of other things can taste good in it. But when I was little, if my mom added anything I considered it "ruined"! I saw it with broccoli once at a party and wouldn't touch it, even to eat around the broccoli. These days, I might try it.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tuna bean salad

Mix together: 1/3 c olive oil 3 T red wine vinegar Freshly & finely chopped chives or 1/4 t onion powder  Salt and pepper to taste Set aside. Combine:  6 oz tuna packed without liquid (if packed in oil, add less oil; if packed in water, drain) 1 can/15 oz cannellini beans, drained & rinsed 1 T capers 3/4 c cherry tomatoes, halved 1/2 T freshly chopped basil Pour dressing over and gently combine. Serve alone,  as a salad on a bead of spinach or open face sandwich on a crusty bread -both need an extra drizzle of olive oil.
Post a Comment
Read more

05-09 Mother's Day Eggs

"Eggs a la Goldenrod" is a Cooper recipe. Grandma says she has eaten it at a restaurant. This has become our Mother's day breakfast tradition served with fresh fruit (I like the grapes and strawberries), sometimes crispy bacon, fried apples and orange juice. Guess that is what you kids always thought was the perfect breakfast =) I have always liked it! Prepare 6-8 hard boiled eggs (It makes about as many servings as eggs used) Separate the yolks from the whites. Chop the whites Crumble the yolks To make sauce, melt over medium heat: 6 T unsalted butter Then whisk in 6 T flour Add in slowly, whisking constantly 3 c milk (don't use nonfat) Sprinkle with salt and pepper When thickened and bubbly, stir in whites and remove from heat. Serve this sauce over a piece of toast Sprinkle on 1/6 of the egg yolks and paprika Viola!
Post a Comment
Read more

Nordic curry

This is a mild anytime curry.  Takes 10-15 minutes. The original (dairy) sauce is from Magnus Nilsson. I double the sauce so there's plenty. Especially because I like to add vegetables and proteins. I always add the apples, sometimes skip the onion. Leftover roasted root vegetables tasted great. Regular supermarket yellow curry powder is perfect. Serve it over rice or with naan. Be generous with the salt and pepper.  Melt 4 T butter over medium heat in a sauté pan (wide, shallow).  Sprinkle in 4 T yellow curry powder and stir to combine.  Add 1-2 tart apple (Granny Smith), cored and chopped or cubed & 1 onion, finely chopped. When apples and onion are softened, sprinkle them with 2 T flour . Stir to evenly coat all.  Add 1 1/2 c heavy cream OR coconut cream , slowly, a bit at a time, whisking constantly to keep lumps at bay. When smooth, add in 1 1/2 c milk OR coconut milk in the same manner. Allow to begin to bubble and thicken before serving. Season gen...
Post a Comment
Read more