Mac And Cheese My Way Recipes

CREAMY HOMEMADE BAKED MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F and grease a 3 qt baking dish (9x13"). Set aside.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. When boiling, add dried pasta and cook 1 minute less than the package directs for al dente. Drain and drizzle with a little bit of olive oil to keep from sticking.
• While water is coming up to a boil, shred cheeses and toss together to mix, then divide into three piles. Approximately 3 cups for the sauce, 1 1/2 cups for the inner layer, and 1 1/2 cups for the topping.
• Melt butter in a large saucepan over MED heat. Sprinkle in flour and whisk to combine. Mixture will look like very wet sand. Cook for approximately 1 minute, whisking often. Slowly pour in about 2 cups or so of the milk/half and half, while whisking constantly, until smooth. Slowly pour in the remaining milk/half and half, while whisking constantly, until combined and smooth.
• Continue to heat over MED heat, whisking very often, until thickened to a very thick consistency. It should almost be the consistency of a semi thinned out condensed soup.
• Remove from the heat and stir in spices and 1 1/2 cups of the cheeses, stirring to melt and combine. Stir in another 1 1/2 cups of cheese, and stir until completely melted and smooth.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine drained pasta with cheese sauce, stirring to combine fully. Pour half of the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish. Top with 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheeses, then top that with the remaining pasta mixture.
• Sprinkle the top with the last 1 1/2 cups of cheese and bake for 15 minutes, until cheesy is bubbly and lightly golden brown.

--MACARONI & CHEESE MY WAY--

Steps:

• Cook macaroni about 3 minute less than the package directions.
• While the macaroni is cooking:.
• Grate about 2 ounce each of colby, monterey jack and half of the cheddar. Cut rest of the blocks into medium cubes. Slice the Velveeta. Set aside 1/2 cup of grated cheese to mix with bread crumbs.
• Drain macaroni. Put butter, milk, grated cheese, celery salt, onion powder, salt, pepper, vegetable seasoning, cheese sauce in can and sliced Velveeta in a large saucepan.
• Heat on low heat until cheeses are creamy. Put hot macaroni in large bowl. Add sauce, mix well. Add beaten eggs and mix well. Add cheese cubes. The cheese cubes will not melt completely. Add more milk if needed. Mix thorougly. Adjust seasoning if necessary.
• Pour into large baking dish. Mix remaining grated cheese and 1/3 cup bread crumbs together. Sprinkle on top of mac and cheese. Drizzle 2 tablespoons melted butter on top of grated cheese and bread crumbs.
• Bake at 350 for 35 to 45 minutes. Put under broiler to lightly brown the bread crumbs on top. Let set 15 minutes before serving.
• If you like it cheezy, this is for you.
• ENJOY!

MAC AND CHEESE - MY WAY

Steps:

• Cook macaroni in boiling salted water until tender, but firm. Drain well. Preheat the broiler. Melt the butter in a saucepan. Remove and toss 1 tablespoon of the butter with the bread crumbs. Reserve. Add the flour to the remaining butter, whisking for 2 minutes. Slowly whisk in the milk and broth. Bring to a boil, whisking constantly. Add green onions. Whisk 2 minutes longer. Remove from heat or keep on very, very low
• heat. Add half of the cheese, stirring until smooth. Add remaining cheese, stirring until melted and smooth. Add the macaroni to the sauce and stir well. Spoon into a 2-quart shallow baking dish. Sprinkle with the buttered crumbs. Broil until the crumbs brown, about 2 minutes. Serve immediately. (If you wish, the mixture can be prepared before broiling up to several hours ahead and refrigerated. You may need to stir in a little more milk or broth if it thickens to much. Then bake, covered, for 15 minutes at 375 degrees. Uncover, and bake about I0 minutes more until crumbs are browned and casserole is hot and bubbly.)
• IDEAS FOR LIVENING UP BOXED MAC AND CHEESE
• Stir in chopped pasta-ready canned tomatoes and chopped fresh basil (Italian)
• Stir in a can of chopped green chiles and a teaspoon of chili powder (Mexican)
• Stir in a can of drained water-packed tuna fish, a small can of olives, and some chopped fresh herb such as parsley, basil, thyme, tarragon, sage, or chives
• Stir in leftover bits of cooked vegies (broccoli or corn) or deli meats (ham or smoked turkey or salami

MACARONI AND CHEESE MY WAY

Steps:

• Preheat broiler.
• Bring a large post of water to a rolling boil, add pasta shells and cook al dente, according to package instructions.
• Meanwhile, in a large skillet, add the olive oil and tasso or bacon, cook until just crisp,
• then add shallots and garlic. Cook and stir over moderate heat just until shallots are translucent. Add the flour, cook stirring constantly to blend and toast the flour, about 5 minutes. Add the white wine, reduce until almost dry. Add the cream, bring to a simmer until the sauce coats the back of a spoon, about 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the cheeses, shrimp and spinach. Gently stir until cheese is melted, spinach is wilted and shrimp is beginning to turn pink. Season with salt and white pepper, to taste. Season with hot sauce, to taste.
• Drain the pasta, making sure to shake all of the water off and out of the shells.
• In a large flameproof baking dish, place drained shells. Add the cheese and shrimp mixture and gently fold into the pasta. Sprinkle with the bread crumbs and chopped parsley. Place under the broiler until the breadcrumbs are toasted about 2 to 3 minutes.