Festive Macaroni Cheese Recipes

FESTIVE MACARONI & CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350ºF.
• Cook macaroni in large saucepan as directed on package, omitting salt. Meanwhile, combine tomato sauce, vegetables and cilantro. Blend evaporated milk and chipotle peppers in blender until smooth.
• Drain macaroni; return to pan. Add chipotle mixture with mozzarella and 4 Singles; cook and stir 5 min. or until cheeses are completely melted. Spoon half into 13x9-inch baking dish sprayed with cooking spray; top with layers of half each of the vegetable mixture and remaining Singles. Repeat layers of macaroni and vegetables; cover.
• Bake 25 min. or until heated through. Top with remaining Singles; bake, uncovered, 5 min. or until melted.

FESTIVE GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Put the packages of goat cheese in the freezer to harden slightly, about 15 minutes.
• Spread the dill out on a cutting board to dry for a few minutes. Mix together the cranberries and pistachios on another part of the cutting board.
• Remove the cheese logs from the freezer and take them out of the package. Gently roll one log over the dill, coating it almost completely. Do the same with the second log, rolling it in the cranberries and pistachios. Wrap the logs in plastic wrap and chill until time to serve.
• Serve with crackers.

FIESTA MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Bring a pot of water to a boil. Cook the macaroni in the boiling water until just undercooked. Drain and set aside.
• Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the red onion and corn and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, until the onion turns golden brown and the corn begins to blister, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in the green chiles to combine. Set aside.
• To make the sauce, melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Sprinkle in the flour, whisking to combine. Let the roux cook for a minute or so, whisking constantly. Pour in the milk, whisking constantly, followed by 2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Cook the white sauce until thick and bubbly, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the half-and-half and adobo sauce. Add the processed cheese, 1 cup of the Monterey Jack and 1 cup of the pepper jack and continue to cook, stirring, until the cheese all melts. Add the cooked macaroni and stir to coat. Fold in the diced tomatoes and chiles.
• Butter a 9-by-13-inch disposable foil pan. Layer with half of the macaroni mixture, then half the corn mixture. Repeat the layers, ending with the corn mixture. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup Monterey Jack and 1 cup pepper jack over the top. Sprinkle the crushed tortilla chips all over the cheese, then sprinkle with chili powder.
• To bake immediately, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Bake until bubbly and hot, 20 to 25 minutes. Sprinkle over the chopped cilantro and serve.
• To freeze the casserole for later, let cool completely, then cover with aluminum foil, fold over the edges to seal and freeze.
• If cooking from frozen, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Cook, covered, for 50 minutes, then uncover and bake until light brown and bubbly, about another 20 minutes. Sprinkle over the chopped cilantro and serve.

FESTIVE MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• In a large skillet, sauté scallions, bell pepper, and jalapeno until softened; drain.
• Cook macaroni just until al dente, 8-10 minutes.
• In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.
• Add flour; whisk while cooking, and cook until smooth and lightly browned.
• Whisk in evaporated milk, milk, and spices; stir until thickened.
• Stir in American cheese; allow to melt thoroughly. Add cheddar in one-cup increments, melting thoroughly between additions.
• Mix sauce with vegetables and pasta; add to greased 13 x 9 inch pan.
• Top with breadcrumbs.
• Bake, uncovered, at 350 F 40-45 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

HOLIDAY MACARONI & CHEESE

Steps:

• Cook the pasta according to package directions.
• In a large sauce pan, melt the butter on a low heat. Add in a little flour, enough to make a paste (turn down the heat--flour/butter mixture burns quickly).
• Add the evaporated milk and keep stirring, on a low heat until this mixture thickens---you can add more flour if it's not thick enough. Then, add in all the dry spices, and keep stirring.
• Cut the cheese into small little cubes and then add it to the mixture, still on a low heat and keep stirring.
• Meanwhile, in another sauce pan, add 2tbs of butter and melt on a low heat. Once the butter is sizzling, add in the bread crumbs and saute lightly. Beat the egg and add it to the bread crumbs (You want the bread crumb topping to hold together) Once that happens, let it sit with foil . Meanwhile, if the cheese is thoroughly melted, put the pasta in an oblong baking dish, and pour the cheese mixture over the pasta.
• Bake the macaroni & cheese (covered with foil) for 30 min on 325°F
• Remove the foil and with a spatula slip the bread-crumb topping over the Mac & Cheese. For 10 min more, uncovered continue baking, but keep checking. You just want the bread-crumb topping to be lightly brown!