My Dads Ultimate Macaroni And Tomatoes Recipes

MACARONI AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Once the water is boiling, stir in the macaroni, and return to a boil. Cook the pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the pasta has cooked through, but is still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain well in a colander set in the sink.
• Pour the macaroni into a saucepan and place over medium heat; stir in the butter, bacon grease, tomato sauce, stewed tomatoes with juice, and sugar; season with salt and pepper. Stir while cooking until butter and bacon grease has melted and incorporated completely, 5 to 10 minutes; remove from heat, cover, and allow to sit about 20 minutes before serving.

ULTIMATE MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Cook macaroni in large saucepan as directed on package for al dente pasta. Rinse under cold water; drain well.
• Melt butter in same saucepan on medium heat. Sprinkle with flour and seasonings. Cook and stir 2 minutes or until well blended. Gradually stir in milk until smooth. Stirring constantly, cook 3 minutes or until sauce starts to thicken. Stir in cheese until melted and smooth. Remove from heat. Add macaroni; toss gently to coat. Pour into greased 13x9-inch baking dish. Mix panko and paprika; sprinkle evenly over top.
• Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until bubbly and golden brown on top. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

DAD PAGE'S MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook until they are softened, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture turns light brown, about 3 minutes. Gradually whisk in the milk. Add the paprika, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring, until the sauce is thickened, about 5 minutes. Add the cheeses and stir until they are melted. Add the macaroni and stir until the noodles are thoroughly coated. Remove from heat. Butter two 6-inch cast iron skillets or one 12-inch skillet. Transfer the macaroni mixture into the skillets. Top with the sliced tomatoes. Sprinkle the bread crumbs on top. Bake until the cheese is bubbling and golden brown, about 30 minutes. Garnish with chopped herbs.
• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Spread the cubes of bread on a baking sheet and toast them in the oven until golden brown, about 15 minutes.
• Place the butter, garlic, and herbs in a small saucepan and heat over low heat until the butter is melted. Toss the toasted bread with the butter mixture in a large bowl and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Process the bread in 2 batches in a food processor until you have fine crumbs. Sift the crumbs through a mesh strainer and process the larger crumbs again until all are fine. (If you do not have a food processor, crush the bread on the baking sheet with a rolling pin.)

DAD'S MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400*F.
• Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat.
• Add the onion and garlic, and cook until they are softened, about 2 minutes.
• Whisk in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture turns light brown, about 3 minutes.
• Gradually whisk in the milk.
• Add the paprika, nutmeg, salt and pepper.
• Reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring, until the sauce is thickened, about 5 minutes.
• Add the cheeses and stir until they are melted.
• Add the macaroni and stir until the noodles are toroughly coated.
• Remove from the heat.
• Do not allow the macaroni to sit at this stage, as it will dry out.
• Butter one 12 inch skillet.
• Transfer the macaroni mixture to the skillet.
• Top with the sliced tomatoes.
• Sprinkle bread crumbs on top.
• Bake until the cheese is bubbling and golden brown, about 30 minutes.
• Garnish with the chopped herbs.

ULTIMATE MACARONI CHEESE

Steps:

• Making macaroni cheese is a bit of a juggling act, so it's easier if you get a few things prepared ahead. Finely grate all the cheeses, keeping them separate. Tear the bread into pieces and whizz in a food processor to coarse crumbs. Mix 25g of the cheddar and one-third of the parmesan into the breadcrumbs. Toss the rest of the cheeses together and set aside. Thickly slice the tomatoes. Butter a dish, about 30 x 20 x 5.5cm. Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5.
• Put a pan of water on to boil. Tip the macaroni into the boiling water, stir and bring it back to the boil. Simmer for 8 mins, or cook according to pack instructions, stirring occasionally to stop it sticking. While this is cooking, start the sauce.
• Warm the milk in a jug in the microwave (or in a pan). Melt the butter in a pan (big enough to take the macaroni as well), then stir in the flour. Cook for 1 min, stirring, then take off the heat. Pour in one-third of the warm milk and beat well with a wooden spoon until smooth - it is quite thick at this stage. Add another third - it may go a bit lumpy, but keep beating well and it will go smooth again. Pour in the final third of milk and keep beating until smooth.
• When the macaroni is done, tip it into a colander and put it briefly under very hot running water to keep it separate. Drain. Put the pan of sauce back on the heat and cook, stirring, until thickened and smooth. Lower the heat and simmer for about 4 mins until glossy, stirring every now and then. Remove from the heat and stir in the cheese and mustard, then beat in 5 tbsp milk, or enough to give a slack coating consistency. Taste and season (you shouldn't need much salt). If the macaroni is sticking at all, put it under the hot tap again, then stir to separate. Drain well, then gently mix it into the sauce and stir to coat completely. If necessary, adjust the consistency again with milk. There should be enough sauce to coat the macaroni thickly and liberally.
• Tip the macaroni cheese into the buttered dish, scatter over the cheesy crumbs and lay the tomatoes casually over the top. Heat through in the oven for 12-15 mins until beginning to bubble around the edges. Grill for 3-5 mins to brown the crumbs. Let it all settle for 1-2 mins, then serve while still piping hot.

MY DAD'S ULTIMATE MACARONI AND TOMATOES

Steps:

• Cook macaroni according to directions, drain and set aside.
• While macaroni is cooking, saute the onion and garlic in oil, then add ground meat and cook until done.
• Combine macaroni with the mushroom soup, mixing well.
• Add meat mixture and herbs, and then chopped tomatoes. Mix well.
• I usually heat the macaroni and tomatoes until just warm, as I find it cools a bit while I get everything finished and mixed together, but that is up to you.
• I should also add that I tend to enjoy a fair bit of herbs/spices in my food, so when you first try this, you may want to use the smaller amount.