Foodie Blogroll

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Baked Macaroni & Cheese


Here is another first for me believe it or not. I have never really made a homemade mac and cheese before this past winter break. When Maranda was little she didn't like homemade mac & cheese so I didn't attempt making it. Then I made it once from a recipe my daughter's friend's mother had made. I didn't care much for it, it didn't have the butter and flour rue to start off with so it tasted pretty much like just cheese and pasta. So I put it off again not making it for awhile.

I don't know what got into me, but I decided to try making it again, and Maranda was going to help me. It was a big hit and she said how easy it was to make. We've had it twice now and she won't eat it premade or from a box again....the same thing happened when I made stove top popcorn (no more microwave popcorn in this house).

Baked Macaroni and Cheese
ingredients:
8 oz elbow macaroni
1/4 cup minced shallots
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
1 cup heavy cream, warmed
1 cup milk, warmed
1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup grated Gouda cheese
1 cup grated Colby Jack
2 tablespoons cream cheese
1 teaspoon hot sauce or chili garlic sauce
1 teaspoon dried mustard
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
Sea Salt and Black Pepper, to taste
Asiago cheese, grated

Cook macaroni according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
While the noodles are cooking, heat butter over medium-low heat. Add shallots and cook until soft and translucent about 5 minutes.



Add flour and stir constantly for a minute or two. Turn heat to medium; gradually whisk in milk and cream, cook over medium heat, stirring or whisking constantly until thickened. Reduce heat and add in cream cheese, cheddar, Gouda and Colby jack. Once the cheese has melted, add the hot sauce, mustard, nutmeg and season with salt and pepper.

Add the drained noodles to the cheese sauce, and gently fold into the cheese sauce.


Stir and evenly distribute the mac and cheese into prepared (buttered) baking dish, or dishes.


Grate fresh asiago or pecorino over top.
Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 25 minutes or until bubbly and golden.


Now for the hard part... Let stand before serving....


...it will only take about 5 minutes...I know you can do it!


Like I mentioned above I've made it twice already. Once I used these small ceramic bowls that I got for Christmas from Lock and Lock. They are perfect to bake and serve it in. Then for leftovers...if there is any leftovers, you can snap the lid on, store in the fridge and bring it for lunch the next day!

and the other time I used my lasagna dish. This is nice because it's non-stick so I don't have to butter it to prepare it for baking.


So you can use a casserole dish, smaller individual dishes or even ramekins. Top with different cheese find one you like. You can even add red pepper flakes, smoked paprika or chipotle chili powder. If you have to you can add bread crumbs to the top, but we like it without.



Now to share one of a few things that we've been up to in January. Staring with the
Thunder By The Bay Motorcycle Festival, an event that took place in Sarasota, Florida on 06-Jan-2012. 2012

Wade was talked into showing his 1981 Kawasaki, but he missed having it entered in the vintage class by one year! Funny though he could an antique licence tag on it.


It was a beautiful day and you could see motorcycles lined up all through the downtown streets. People walking everywhere and dressed up in their biker best. A great place to people watch. I didn't get any pictures of the food booths this year

Meanwhile back at the ranch...err...house my Ti plants are in bloom...

and one of my cactus, I believe it's a prickly pear. Maybe you know what it is...let me know!

35 comments:

  1. Lyndsey look absolutely delicious and yum!!!

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  2. Sounds like a fun event! I don't need a small ramekin - a big heaping serving would be great!

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  3. recipe sounds absolutely tasty...
    excellent cliks dear...;)
    Tasty Appetite

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  4. This looks so creammy and good! Like you, I didn't make mac and cheese for years because my kids wouldn't eat it. They had to have the stuff in the box. It's nice to be able to try dishes that we couldn't before.

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  5. Thanks for the reminder that I love macaroni cheese, I have not made it for ages! The bottom picture looks like prickly pear. If so the fruits that appear after the flowers are delicious, just watch out for the prickles!! Diane

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  6. My boys loved macaroni cheese and thanks for sharing this easy method :)

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    1. I'm sure if you like cheese you can't go wrong here. It's not exactly health food so all in moderation :)

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  7. This of course looks so good; I pinned it and just sent you an invitation to join Pinterest. I really didn't think I would enjoy it this much.
    Rita

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    1. Thanks Rita, I'll join soon. I just wish my computer was faster. I'm afraid of getting lost in the virtual world! :)

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  8. Utter drool...so lush, soothing and delish, Lydnsey! Thanks for sharing just a beautiful cheesy delight, I'm inspired now!

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    1. Jenn, thanks for stopping by. Always a pleasure hearing from you. It reminds to step it up and post my bentos! BTW...you can always lighten this dish too

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  9. looks awesome sorry about the blog post with no recipe, did from phone he he recipe up now

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    1. no worries...I knew you'd give me the recipe!! :)

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  10. Have you been peeking through my kitchen window? I use cheddar, Gouda and a Jack cheese for my mac and cheese and I love it. Gouda is a secret weapon.

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    1. ooh sorry Casey, I let the cat out of the bag! Now I am hesitant to release my chili recipe...lots of good secrets there.

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  11. Oh what I would give for a big bowl of this. It's my kind of comfort food!

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  12. Cor that looks good Lyndsey! I love seeing all those different cheeses listed, will be stealing your recipe. Usually we just use cheddar but I think your recipe looks a lot better.

    Hope you are feeling better (tried to comment on the chicken soup post but had difficulties (me not you!))


    Pru

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  13. i'm a little suprised hearing your first time making mac and cheese..haha! just that i thought it's a very common food there and every household will cook this at home. Thanks for sharing your recipe! is antique licence a very valuable item in the states? i mean can this fetch a very high price in the future?

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    1. Ha! Yes, I know we are not your typical American household. Working at an elementary school I see what those kids bring for lunch, and I can tell you my daughter never ate like that. The antique license plate is more or less just for show. If you have a motorcycle over 30 years or older you can get one, for cars I'm not sure how old it has to be.

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  14. Isn't it terrible how those pre-packed stuff really kills our liking for certain foods? This mac and cheese is waaaay better than any store bought stuff and they'll never be able to put the same stuff you did without selling it at a higher price. I'm drooling at that crust right now!

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  15. Lyndsey, baked mac and cheese is the absolute favorite of my kids. I haven't made it quite some time either. Your recipe sounds really good and I am going to give it a try soon. All that cheese..., yum!

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  16. Me too! I only started making mac and cheese last year for a church event. My youngest really enjoyed it and so I have made it a few other times. Homemade is so much better than the boxed ones. I will have to try the Asiago cheese next time.

    There seems to be a lot of fun events happening in and around your place. Thanks for sharing them! :)

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    1. I like the variety of cheeses and my daughter is now appreciating different cheese other than cheddar. You can try any hard cheese like pecorino or Romano we like the flavor of asiago.

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  17. Gloria, thank you very much!

    Aarthi - you are so good!

    Belinda- I know...right!

    Jay - thanks

    Lynda - It is nice that my daughter is enjoyinf more and more foods!


    Diane - thanks, glad I could help.

    Ann - it is a guilty pleasure that's for sure!

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  18. This looks irresistibly creamy and delicious. I certainly could not pass it up. I hope you have a great day. Blessings...Mary

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  19. Your mac and cheese look so creamy and delicious. Lovely flowers you are going to get lots of cactus fruits..

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  20. Love mac and cheese but haven't made a proper one - I love yours. And glad it's caught on to Maranda! Just like you, I've cracked the stove top popcorn code....especially since microwave popcorn is more expensive here than in the Netherlands! Have a great weekend and thrive....like your plants! Don't know what that cactus is....

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  21. Lyndsey, I haven't actually made mac & cheese either! :) tonight making mac & cheese soup w/broccoli! -15° here today - soup is the only way to go.

    http://www.skinnytaste.com/2012/01/skinny-macaroni-and-cheese-soup-with.html

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  22. This looks super cheesy and irresistible! It's hard to go back to the boxed version after eating something like this!

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  23. wow...my mouth waters....this looks simply gorgeous!

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  24. Your Mac n Cheese looks fantastic! I can't believe it took you so long to make one :) And love your cheese choices...super comfort food!

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  25. My kids were not into mac and cheese at all. But when we visited our Indian neighbor's house for playdate and the mom made very delicious mac and cheese... It was very first time for me to eat it as well and we loved it! I have to try baked version. I always thought boxed mac and cheese when I hear "mac and cheese" but homemade version is pretty yummy!

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  26. It's amazing the difference between boxed mac and cheese and homemade. The box stuff tastes plastic to me, but I've never liked it. So glad Maranda likes thee homemade version.

    I can almost hear all of those motorcycles. We ended up by accident in Daytona one time during bike week. What a trip!
    Sam

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  27. What took you so long? Who can resist a homemade mac and cheese, especially so rich with the combination of 4 of the most yummiest cheeses that you used. The crunchy topping, and the individual ramekins, I'm absolutely loving this amazing mac and cheese you made, Lindsey. Even if it doesn't fit into my WW I would just choose it for my once a week splurging!
    Bookmarking this to copy, and print out:DDD
    The motorcycle festival looks like a nice event. Great photos!

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  28. Wow, when my Quay Lo breaks for lunch from his work, I must show him your mac and cheese!! I bet he willl drool and ask me to make this for dinner tonight! This simple enough for me to be a copy cat.

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