Nancys Italian Macaroni And Cheese Recipes

ITALIAN MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. As soon as the water comes to a boil, add the pasta and stir. While the pasta cooks, prepare the cheese fondue. Heat the cream in a saucepan over medium low heat until it is steaming but not bubbling. Add the rocchetta cheese, and stir until it melts. Keep it steaming hot until the pasta is ready. Undercook the pasta just a little, you want to let it finish cooking right in the cheese fondue. Once the pasta is very very al dente, drain it and add it to the cheese fondue and let it cook in the sauce for 2 minutes. Then add the parmesan, stir, and divide the macaroni and cheese between two bowls. Top with freshly ground black pepper, and toasted breadcrumbs if you like, and serve.

MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Butter a 13 by 9-inch glass baking dish and set aside. Cook the noodles in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes. Drain well, but do not rinse.
• Whisk the cream, milk, flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and pepper in large bowl to blend. Stir in 1 cup Fontina, 1/2 cup Parmesan, 1/2 cup mozzarella, ham, if using, and parsley. Add the noodles and toss to coat. Transfer the noodle mixture to the prepared baking dish. Toss the remaining 1 cup Fontina, 1/4 cup Parmesan, and 1/4 cup mozzarella in a small bowl to blend. Sprinkle the cheese mixture over the noodle mixture. Bake until the sauce bubbles and the cheese melts and begins to brown on top, about 20 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

ITALIAN MAC-N-CHEESE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Salt water and cook pasta to a chewy al dente, about 8 minutes.
• In a nonstick skillet, brown and crumble the sausage. Drain cooked crumbles on paper towel lined plate. Return pan to heat and add extra-virgin olive oil, butter, garlic and mushrooms. Season liberally with salt and pepper. Saute 3 to 5 minutes, until mushrooms are lightly golden.
• Preheat broiler to high.
• To mushrooms, add flour and stir, cooking 2 minutes. Whisk in stock, then stir in cream. Bring cream to a bubble, then stir in 2 cups of 4 cheese blend. When cheese has melted into sauce, add tomatoes. When sauce comes to a bubble, remove from heat and adjust seasonings, adding hot sauce if desired.
• Combine cheese sauce with sausage and pasta, transfer to flameproof baking dish, casserole or flameproof serving platter. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup of 4 cheese blend and the grated Parmesan over the top and brown under hot broiler.

ITALIAN THREE-CHEESE MACARONI

Steps:

• Cook macaroni according to package directions., Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350°. In a small saucepan, melt butter. Stir in flour, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper until smooth; gradually add milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat; stir in cheddar and Parmesan cheeses until melted. Drain macaroni., Spread 1 cup cheese sauce in a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Layer with half of macaroni, tomatoes and cheese sauce. Repeat layers. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Combine bread crumbs and butter; sprinkle over top., Cover and bake 40 minutes. Uncover and bake 10-15 minutes longer or until golden brown and bubbly. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

NANA'S MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Boil macaroni according to package directions (recommend: less time for firmer noodles) and drain well.
• Pour macaroni into a large (13x18-inch or 13x19-inch) baking pan.
• Add cheese and mix well.
• In a separate bowl, combine eggs with a splash of milk. Beat thoroughly, and pour over the macaroni-cheese mixture.
• Add evaporated milk.
• Pour whole milk into the pan until the macaroni is completely covered. note: nana performs a "spoon test" - rest the spoon on the macaroni and if the milk covers the spoon you should have about the right amount.
• Bake at 400°F for a minimum of 1 hour. Macaroni and cheese is done when you shake the pan and it jiggles like jello.

HERBED MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain. Place in a 1-1/2-qt. casserole and set aside. , Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in flour and seasonings; gradually add milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove pan from heat; add the sour cream, 1/2 cup cheddar cheese and Havarti cheese. Stir until melted. , Pour sauce over macaroni; toss to coat. Combine the Parmesan cheese, bread crumbs and remaining cheddar cheese; sprinkle over casserole. Bake at 350° for 15-20 minutes or until heated through.

NANNY'S SIMPLE MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Boil pasta according to package in salted water.
• For firmer pasta reduce boiling time by a few minutes.
• Drain.
• Grease a deep casserole dish (I use a spray).
• Place a layer of macaroni, enough to cover the bottom, in the casserole dish.
• Add a layer of cheese slices covering the macaroni.
• Very lightly season with salt and pepper (I actually skip this and we add salt and pepper to taste on our individual servings).
• Repeat these layers until you are out of pasta.
• Pour milk over the casserole until the milk almost reaches the top of the casserole dish (It doesn't take much because the dish is already full of pasta and cheese).
• Bake covered for about 45 minutes to an hour in a 350 degree oven.
• You'll know it is finished cooking when the milk is no longer liquid.
• Sometimes I add leftover ham chunks to the layers.
• Cook time and servings are approximate!