Dereks Favorite Mac N Cheese Recipes

MY FAVORITE MAC N CHEESE

Steps:

• To cook on stove top:.
• Cook macaroni until al dente, or doneness you prefer; drain, then return noodles to pot. In a separate saucepan, melt butter, then add cheese, sour cream, condensed cheddar cheese soup, milk, salt, pepper, and mustard; stir until completely melted, then pour over cooked noodles and mix well; serve immediately.
• To cook in crockpot:.
• Boil macaroni noodles for 5 minutes; drain and set aside. In a saucepan, melt butter, then add cheese, sour cream, condensed cheddar cheese soup, milk, salt, pepper, and mustard; stir until completely melted. Butter the inside of a slow cooker and place in the noodles; then pour the melted cheese mixture onto the noodles and mix until well combined. Cook on low for 2 to 2 1⁄2 hours stirring a couple times during the cooking. Test once in a while to check if the noodles are cooked to the softness you prefer, then serve.

CLASSIC MACARONI AND CHEESE WITH SMOKED BACON, AGED CHEDDAR AND FRESH SAGE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Coat 2 baking dishes with the butter.
• Place chopped bacon on a baking sheet and cook in oven until half cooked, about 10 minutes. Drain off excess grease, reserve bacon.
• In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook elbow macaroni until al dente, about 8 to 10 minutes. Strain, toss lightly in olive oil, reserve.
• In a saucepan, on medium-high heat, saute bacon with a light amount of olive oil. Add the onion and cook until translucent then add the garlic. Dust with flour, whisk in milk, cream, nutmeg, and mustard powder. Bring to simmer stirring constantly for several minutes. Whisk in 4 cups of Cheddar and half a cup of Parmesan. Stir until all the cheese is melted. Adjust the seasoning with salt, pepper and lemon juice. Fold in the pasta, sage and parsley.
• Place into buttered baking dishes. Top with remaining cheeses and place dishes on baking tray and place in the oven. Bake until golden brown, about 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool about 5 minutes, garnish with parsley and sage leaves and serve!

DEREK'S FAVORITE MAC-N-CHEESE

Steps:

• Mix together the uncooked macaroni, hot water, mustard and packaged cheese sauce. Pour into a 1 quart casserole dish and bake covered for 30 minutes at 350. Uncover and stir in sour cream. Bake for another 10 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving. Optional Ingredients: If you do't want to use a boxed mix, you can use any macaroni shape you want and substitute 6 ounces of velveeta cheese. Fun additions: diced ham, diced onions, or diced tomatoes. Add 1 cup of cooked pumpkin or butternut squash for a sweet nutty taste that is different. Sprinkle with fresh ground nutmeg before serving.