Three Cheese Pâté Recipes

BAKED THREE-CHEESE MACARONI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Cook macaroni in a 6-qt. stockpot according to package directions for al dente. Drain; return to pot., In a large saucepan, melt 6 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Stir in flour until smooth; whisk in warmed milk. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly; cook and stir 2-3 minutes or until thickened., Remove from heat; stir in Gruyere and cheddar cheeses, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Add to macaroni, tossing to coat., Transfer to a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Toss bread crumbs with Parmesan cheese and melted butter; sprinkle over casserole. Bake, uncovered, 30-40 minutes or until bubbly and top is golden brown.

THREE-CHEESE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Butter 8 x 150ml ramekins. Melt the butter in a pan, then mix in the digestives, walnuts and sugar. Divide the mixture equally between the ramekins, so the base of each is covered with a layer about 1cm thick. Press down lightly on each, then cook in the oven for 10 mins until crisp and golden. Leave to cool, then turn oven down to 150C/fan 130C/gas 2.
• Whisk together all remaining ingredients until you have a smooth mixture. Place the ramekins on a baking tray and pour some mixture into each one, filling to about 1cm below the rim. Carefully slide them into the oven and cook for 25-30 mins until just set. The mixture should give the faintest jiggle in the centre when gently tapped. Don't worry if the mixture falls a little and cracks. Remove from the oven and leave to cool completely before covering with cling film and putting in the fridge. You can make to this point up to 2 days in advance.
• Make the sauce by gently heating together the sugar and 50ml/2fl oz water until syrupy, about 5 mins. Then stir in half the raspberries and cook for 2 mins until they begin to burst. Strain the mixture through a sieve to remove the pips, then toss through the remaining raspberries and leave to cool.
• When ready to serve, remove the cheesecakes from the fridge. Run a knife dipped in hot water around the edges. Invert, one at a time, onto a board, then turn over again onto a serving plate so the biscuit base is on the bottom. Finish by drizzling with raspberry sauce and top with strawberries.

BAKED PENNE WITH THREE CHEESES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Prepare the penne rigate according to the package directions, minus 1 or 2 minutes of cooking time (see Cook's Note). Drain, then pour the pasta into a 9-by-13-inch glass baking pan.
• In a 4-quart saucepan, melt the butter on medium-low heat. Whisk in the flour until it's dissolved. Add the cream to the saucepan. Add the nutmeg, seasoned salt, and black pepper and whisk the mixture until it's warmed through.
• Reduce the heat to low, and add the mozzarella, Cheddar, and Parmigiano-Reggiano. Stir until you have a smooth cheese sauce.
• Pour the sauce over the pasta and top with the breadcrumbs.
• Bake for about 40 minutes, until the top turns a golden brown.

FOUR-CHEESE PATE

Steps:

• In a bowl, beat one package if cream cheese with milk and sour cream until smooth. Spread into a 9-in. pie plate lined with plastic wrap. Sprinkle with chopped pecans. , In a bowl, beat Brie, Swiss, blue cheese and remaining cream cheese until thoroughly combined. Gently spread over chopped pecans, smoothing the top to form a flat surface. Cover and chill overnight or up to 3-4 days., Before serving, invert onto a plate and remove plastic wrap. Arrange pecan halves on top. Serve with apples or crackers.

3-CHEESE MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• In large pot filled with water add 3 pinches of salt and the macaroni and place over high heat. Bring to a boil and let cook until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain. Set aside.
• In a large saucepan, melt butter. Sprinkle flour over butter and cook 2 to 3 minutes on medium heat, whisking until a roux or paste forms. Add cold milk and whisk vigorously until dissolved. Cook sauce on medium-low heat until thick and bubbly. Add heavy cream, all cheeses, 1 tablespoon of salt, and 1 tablespoon pepper. Cook until cheeses are fully melted, stirring occasionally.
• Add cooked macaroni to cheese mixture and mix thoroughly. Place macaroni mixture in a 13 by 9 baking dish and top with breadcrumbs. Place in the oven and bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Top with fresh parsley and serve.

THREE-CHEESE SOUFFLE

Steps:

• Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 375. Butter the bottom and sides of a 2-quart souffle dish up to the top edge. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup parmesan and the cornmeal. Place in the freezer while you prepare the souffle.
• Make the roux: Melt 6 tablespoons butter in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat and add the garlic. Stir in the flour, nutmeg and 2 teaspoons salt and cook, stirring, until the flour is cooked but not browned, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the milk and simmer, whisking constantly, until the mixture is as thick as pudding, about 5 minutes. Stir in the comte, emmentaler and 3/4 cup parmesan until melted, then remove from the heat. Stir in the 4 egg yolks one at a time. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and stir to cool slightly.
• Beat the 6 egg whites and lemon juice in a large bowl with a mixer until soft peaks form. Fold a quarter of the whites into the cheese base, then fold in the remaining whites.
• Place the prepared souffle dish on a baking sheet, pour in the batter and smooth the top. Run your finger around the inside lip of the dish to push the batter away from the edge and create a ridge. Scatter the remaining 1/4 cup parmesan on top. Transfer to the oven and immediately reduce the temperature to 325. Bake until golden and puffed about 2 inches above the lip of the dish, about 35 minutes. Serve immediately with baguette slices and pate and/or apple butter, if desired.

THREE CHEESE BAKED PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook pasta in boiling water until al dente. Drain.
• Meanwhile, cook ground meat and onion in a skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently, until meat is browned. Stir in pasta sauce, reduce heat, and simmer for 15 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish. Layer the ingredients in the prepared baking dish as follows: half of the cooked pasta, all the provolone cheese, all the sour cream, half of the sauce mixture, remaining pasta, mozzarella cheese, and remaining sauce mixture. Top with grated Parmesan cheese.
• Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until bubbly.

TRICOLOR VEGETABLE PâTé

Steps:

• Line 8 1/2x4 1/2-inch loaf pan with plastic wrap, overlapping sides.
• For Bean Layer:
• Mash beans in large bowl. Add lemon juice, olive oil, oregano and garlic and blend until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Spread bean mixture evenly on bottom of prepared pan.
• For Red Pepper Layer:
• Combine peppers and feta in processor and blend until smooth. Spread pepper mixture evenly over bean layer in prepared dish.
• For Pesto Layer:
• Mince garlic in processor. Add basil, parsley and pine nuts and mince. With machine running, gradually add oil through feed tube and process until smooth. Mix in ricotta. Spread pesto evenly over red pepper layer. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
• To unmold, invert pâté onto serving platter. Peel off plastic wrap from pâté. Garnish with herb sprigs and serve with sourdough bread slices.