Oh So Good Mac And Cheese Recipes

OH-SO-GOOD MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine macaroni, 1-1/2 cups of the cheddar cheese, the spinach, tomatoes and Parmesan cheese in large bowl; set aside. Heat oil in medium saucepan on low heat 1 min. Add onions; cook 2 to 3 min. or until crisp-tender. Add flour; mix well. Cook 2 min., stirring constantly. Gradually add milk, stirring until well blended after each addition. Increase heat to medium. Bring to boil; cook 2 to 3 min. or until thickened, stirring constantly. Add to macaroni mixture; toss to coat.
• Spoon into 1-1/2-qt.-casserole dish sprayed with cooking spray; sprinkle with remaining Cheddar cheese.
• Bake 20 min. or until heated through.

THE BEST BAKED MAC & CHEESE RECIPE EVER

Steps:

• Boil the pasta JUST until al dente, according to package directions. Drain and return to the pan you boiled it in. Set aside. (Mix in a little butter to keep the noodles from sticking if it's going to be awhile before you make the sauce)
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
• To a medium saucepan over medium heat, add the butter. When the butter has melted, add the flour, salt, dry mustard, pepper, and 1/8 teaspoon smoked paprika. With a wooden spoon or whisk, stir constantly for three minutes.
• Add the milk in a thin stream, stirring constantly with a whisk. Continue to stir constantly until the sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon, 5-8 minutes.
• Remove from heat and add 2 cups of the cheese, stirring until melted. You'll reserve the last cup of cheese for topping. Pour the cheese sauce over the pasta and toss gently until all of the pasta is coated.
• Add half the pasta to a two-quart casserole dish (I like a tall 8-inch by 8-inch baking dish). Sprinkle on half the cheese. Add the rest of the pasta. Sprinkle on the rest of the cheese, then dust lightly with the smoked paprika.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes, until the mac and cheese is bubbling and browning on top.
• Serve, topping individual servings with parsley or cooked, chopped bacon if desired.

"WORLD'S BEST" MACARONI & CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350; F. Set a large pot of water on high heat.
• Meanwhile, begin the sauce by making a roux: in a medium saucepan melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour. Continue to stir this roux over medium heat for two to three minutes.
• The roux should be cooked and free of the flour flavor but still light in color.
• Gradually add milk, whisking briskly to maintain a smooth sauce.
• Cook the sauce for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to avoid scorching.
• When sauce thickens, add cheeses, salt and spices to the sauce, and stir until all the cheese has melted. I make my sauces in the microwave; turns out great and never scorches.
• Somewhere during this sauce-cooking process, your pasta water has started boiling. The original is made with Penne noodles. Add a generous amount of salt to the water and cook the pasta until almost but not quite al dente (two minutes before the package directions indicate). You want barely undercooked pasta so that it can finish in the oven later. Halt the cooking by draining the pasta and rinsing with cold water. Return pasta to pot.
• Pour sauce over pasta and stir until completely incorporated. The combination should be fairly saucy, almost soupy.
• Dish the mixture into a buttered 9-13 pan and sprinkle with extra grated cheeses and cayenne. Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes, until you have beautiful, browned edges. Those edges will be a welcome and flavorful addition to each serving.
• Let the dish sit for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. I divided this in 2 containers and froze one.

OH SO RICH BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Mix melted butter with the breadcrumbs.
• Cook macaroni in 4 quarts salted boiling water, al dente, then drain.
• Dry pot and melt remaining butter over medium heat. Add garlic, mustard, and cayenne pepper. Cook approximately 30 seconds.
• Add flour, cook until golden.
• Slowly add milk and broth, whisking as it is added. Simmer and whisk approximately 6 minutes. Liquid should coat the back of a spoon.
• Remove from heat.
• Whisk in cheese until melted. Salt and pepper to taste.
• Add cooked pasta, mix evenly.
• Place mixture in 9x13 pan, cover surface with breadcrumbs. Bake 25-30 minutes. Breadcrumbs will be brown and the edges should be bubbling.
• Cool 10 minutes.

MAN THAT'S GOOD MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the pancetta and cook until cooked through and just slightly crispy, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a plate lined with a paper towel and reserve. Add the onions to the skillet and saute over medium heat until soft and translucent, about 8 minutes. Set aside.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook until al dente, 6 to 8 minutes. Drain and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
• Melt the butter in a large saucepot over medium heat. Stir in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, until lightly browned with a nutty aroma, about 5 minutes. Add the reserved onions and the garlic and cook for 2 minutes. While whisking, slow pour in the milk, making sure to whisk out any lumps. Stir in the white pepper, cayenne and 1 teaspoon salt and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Reduce the heat and let simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 3 to 4 minutes. While stirring, add the grated fontina, Gruyere and Parmesan about 1/2 cup at a time and continue to stir until melted and blended. Stir in the celery leaves. Stir in the cooked macaroni.
• Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Bake until hot, bubbly and lightly browned on top, 20 to 25 minutes, sprinkling on the cooked pancetta about 5 minutes before the macaroni and cheese is done.

OH SO GOOD MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Cook macaroni as directed on box, drain and set aside. In saucepan, melt butter. Blend in flour, salt and pepper. Add milk. Cook and stir until thick and bubbly. Add American Cheese; stir until melted. (make sure you steadily stir so it does not scorch.) In a 1 1/2 quart casserole pan, mix cheese sauce with macaroni. Bake on 350 for 35 minutes. Spread shredded cheese on top and finish baking for about 5 minutes. Serves about 4-6.