Macaroni And Cheese For Grownups Recipes

GROWN UP MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Place a baking rack on a sheet pan and arrange the bacon in 1 layer on the baking rack. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the bacon is crisp. Remove the pan carefully from the oven - there will be hot grease in the pan! Transfer the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels and crumble when it is cool enough to handle.
• Drizzle oil into a large pot of boiling salted water. Add the macaroni and cook according to the directions on the package, 6 to 8 minutes. Drain well.
• Meanwhile, heat the milk in a small saucepan, but don't boil it. Melt the butter in a medium pot and add the flour. Cook over low heat for 2 minutes, stirring with a whisk. While whisking, add the hot milk and cook for a minute or 2 more, until thickened and smooth. Off the heat, add the Gruyere, Cheddar, blue cheese, 1 teaspoon salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Add the cooked macaroni and crumbled bacon and stir well. Pour into 2 individual size gratin dishes.
• Place the bread slices in a food processor fitted with a steel blade and pulse until you have coarse crumbs. Add the basil and pulse to combine. Sprinkle the bread crumb mixture over the top of the pasta. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the macaroni is browned on the top.

MACARONI AND CHEESE FOR GROWN-UPS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
• Put the water, 1/2 teaspoon of salt and oil in a large heavy saucepan over high heat to boil. Add the pasta and cook stiring occasionally until tender, about 8 minutes.
• In a small heavy saucepan melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook stirring constantly for 2 minutes.
• Slowly add the milk, whisking constantly.
• Add the remaining salt and pepper and continue whisking until the sauce is smooth and thick enough to coat the whisk; about 8 minutes.
• Remove the sauce from the heat and stir in the cheese(s). Continue stiring until smooth and melted.
• In the microwave melt the remaining butter and mix with Panko. Add the parsley. Set aside.
• Lightly butter a 1.5 quart casserole or 4- 15 oz. rammikins.
• Combine chesse sauce and macaroni in casserole mixing well.
• Top with Panko and bake in 375 degree oven for 20 minutes or until brown on top.
• Remove and enjoy.

MAC-N-CHEESE FOR GROWN-UPS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375.
• Butter 3-4 quart square baking dish.
• In 4 quart saucepan over medium heat, melt 6 tablespoons of butter.
• Stir in flour, cook, stirring, 1 minuted. Add bay leaf.
• Slowly whisk in milk until smooth.
• Simmer, whisking occasionally, 14-16 minutes.
• Discard bay leaf.
• Whisk in creme fraiche and 1 1/2 teaspoon fleur de sel; bring to simmer.
• Off heat, stir in 1 1/2 cups each mozzarella and cheedar.
• Season with Fleur de sel and white pepper.
• In large bowl, combine pasta and cheese sauce.
• Stir in 2 cups mozzarella.
• Transfer to prepared casserole dish.
• Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella and cheddar, then with bread crumbs.
• Bake 30 minutes.
• Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

MACARONI AND CHEESE FOR GROWNUPS

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a heavy skillet.
• Add the onion and saute on medium heat until softened and mostly cooked-about 10 minutes.
• Add the garlic and cook for one more minute-be careful not to brown the garlic.
• Whisk the flour in.
• Cook while stirring for three minutes.
• Uncooked flour tastes bad!
• Whisk in the milk.
• Continue to stir until the mixture barely begins to boil.
• It should be a little bubbly and beginning to thicken.
• Add the vinegar while whisking-if the milk is hot it won't curdle and the vinegar brightens up the sauce.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.
• If you don't want black flecks use white pepper instead.
• Add a dash of Tobasco.
• Taste then add more if you like.
• Stir in the pepperoncinis or jalapenos.
• You need to experiment-make this a few times and decide exactly how much of which pepper you like.
• Stir in your favorite cheeses.
• I like to combine sharp cheddar with a little crumbled bleu.
• Swiss is good for flavor but not texture so blend with something creamy like Fontina.
• Monterey Jack is very creamy but without a lot of flavor so add something sharp and flavorful.
• Pour the macaroni into a large baking pan.
• Pour the sauce over and gently mix.
• Sprinkle the parmesan and bread crumbs on top.
• Bake at 350 degrees until browned on top-about 25 minutes or so.
• Let sit for 10 minutes then serve.
• You may never even consider boxed mac-n-cheese again.

GROWN-UP MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat covered 4-quart saucepan of salted water to boiling on high. Add pasta and cook as label directs. Meanwhile, preheat broiler. In 3-quart saucepan, cook pancetta on medium 5 minutes or until browned; with slotted spoon, transfer pancetta to paper towels to drain. Add enough oil to drippings in pan to equal 1 tablespoon; whisk in flour and cook 30 seconds, whisking constantly. Gradually whisk in milk and heat to boiling on medium-high, stirring frequently. Boil 1 minute, stirring. Remove saucepan from heat; stir in Fontina, 1/4 cup Romano, and 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper until cheese melts. In cup, combine remaining Romano with panko. Drain pasta well. Stir pasta and pancetta into cheese mixture until evenly coated. Spoon mixture into 4-cup shallow gratin dish or 9-inch pie plate. Sprinkle with panko mixture. Place dish on rack in bottom third of oven and broil 3 to 6 minutes or until browned. Tips & Techniques For robust flavor, look for Italian Fontina instead of one of the domestic choices.

GROWN UP MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Put a large pot of well salted water on to boil.
• Heat the milk in a small saucepan over medium low heat to just below a simmer. Remove from heat and cover to keep hot.
• Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium low heat.
• add the onion and bay leaf. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion starts to soften, about 5 minutes.
• Add the flour and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes.
• Gradually whisk in the hot milk, bring to a simmer, and cook for 10 minutes, whisking frequently, until thickened and smooth.
• Season with 1 tsp salt, the nutmeg, tabasco and pepper to taste.
• Remove and discard the bay leaf. Stir in the gruyere and blue cheese.
• Cook the pasta in the boiling water to al dente, following the package directions. Drain well and return to the pot.
• Toss the lemon zest and half of the Monterey Jack cheese into the pasta while it's still hot; add the cheese sauce and quickly toss to combine.
• Stir in the parsley and thyme and transfer half of the pasta to a large 3 qt shallow cassserole or lasagna pan.
• Sprinkle with the remaining Monterey Jack cheese and half of the Parmigiano; top with the remaining pasta.
• Sprinkle with the remaining Parmigiano and the breadcrumbs.
• Bake until bubbling and golden, 50 to 60 minutes.
• Let rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.