Monster Mac Recipes

CROQUE MONSIEUR MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the ziti and cook until al dente, about 6 minutes. Drain and transfer to a large bowl; toss with 1/4 cup milk.
• Meanwhile, combine both cheeses in a bowl. Beat 1/4 cup milk and the eggs in another bowl; fold in the bread and add half of the cheese.
• Melt the butter in a saucepan over high heat. Add the onion and garlic; cook, stirring, until just brown, 2 minutes. Sprinkle in the flour, cayenne, nutmeg and 1 teaspoon Kosher salt; cook, stirring, about 2 minutes. Slowly add 3/4 cup water and the remaining 1 1/2 cups milk; bring to a boil, stirring until thickened. Remove from the heat and whisk to cool slightly. Whisk in the remaining cheese, then add the pasta and toss.
• Butter a shallow casserole dish. Add half of the pasta, top with some of the ham and cover with the remaining pasta. Top with the remaining ham, then cover with the bread mixture. Bake until golden and bubbly, about 20 minutes. Let rest a few minutes before serving.

MONSTER MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil.
• Add the spinach to the blender, pushing it down toward the bottom to fit it all. Carefully ladle out 1/4 cup of the boiling water and add it to the spinach. Blend until smooth, about 10 seconds. Do not over blend or it will muddy the vibrant color. Set aside to cool.
• Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook until al dente according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.
• Meanwhile, toss together the pepper jack, Sage Derby cheese and cornstarch in a bowl until well combined.
• Set a medium saucepan over low heat. Add the evaporated milk and bring to a simmer. Whisk in the cheese mixture and cook, stirring constantly, until the cheese is melted and the sauce is silky and smooth, about 5 minutes. Off the heat, whisk in the spinach puree, then toss with the pasta.

MONSTER MAC

Steps:

• Place a cast iron skillet in the oven. Preheat oven to 350. While the oven is preheating bring a large pot of salted water to boil.
• When oven is hot and water in the pot on the stove is boiling, pull out the skillet, add 2 rounds of olive oil, add turkey and saute until no longer pink (about 5 minutes).
• As soon as the turkey is cooked add pasta to water and cook until al dente (5-6 minutes).
• Add pasta sauce, miracle whip and cheese. Stir until cheese is melted.
• Drain pasta (reserving about 1/4 cup of the cooking liquid) and add both to the sauce mixture. Stir to combine.
• Place in oven (covered) and heat 15-30 minutes to allow the sauce to penetrate the pasta.