Macaroni and Cheese Recipes, Not from a box

[teeceetx]

Don't know where I got this, but it's really good: (12 servings)

16 oz elbow macaroni, cooked
1 tsp extra virgin olive oil
6 tbl unsalted butter
1/3 cup flour
3 cups whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
4 cups sharp cheddar cheese - shred it yourself
2 cups Gruyere cheese - shred it yourself
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 cup bacon bits (or crumble your own equivalent cooked bacon slices)
1 1/2 cups Panko crumbs
4 tbl melted butter
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese - shred it yourself
1/4 tsp Paprika

Preheat oven to 350*.
Lightly grease a 3 or 4 quart baking dish
Combine shredded cheeses in a bowl and set aside.
Cook the pasta 1 minute shy of al dente, remove from heat, drain, and place in large bowl.
Drizzle pasta with olive oil, and stir to coat. Set aside.
Melt 6 tbl unsalted butter in a deep saucepan or stock pot.
Whisk flour into melted butter over medium heat, and whisk until bubbly and golden.
Gradually whisk in the milk and heavy cream until very smooth. Continue whisking until you see bubbles on the surface, then whisk another 2 minutes, adding salt and pepper.
Add 2 cups of shredded cheese and whisk until smooth. Add another 2 cups of shredded cheese, and bacon bits and whisk until creamy, smooth, and thick.
Stir in the cooled pasta and combine until pasta is fully coated with the cheese suce.
Pour half the mac and cheese mixture into the baking dish.
Top with 2 cups of shredded cheese.
Pour the rest of the mac and cheese mixture over the top of that.
In a small bowl, combine Panko crumbs, Parmesan cheese, 4 tbl melted butter, and Paprika. Mix well.
Sprinkle contents of bowl over the top.
Bake at 350* for 30 minutes - until bubbly and golden brown

 

[MoBookworm1957]

I have just read this thread.
I have come to the conclusion I don't cook my mac and cheese like anyone else.
But your all's recipes sound good.
Might give some a try.

 

[MoBookworm1957]

My mac and cheese recipe:
Cook macaroni like normal.
Do Not Drain. place chunks of freshly cubed cheese or freshly shredded cheese in macaroni .
Salt and Pepper, if adding ham omit the salt.
Stir constantly because you don't want it to scorch.
Place in 9 x 13 glass baking dish top with shredded cheese, homemade toasted breadcrumbs or croutons.
Set oven for 350* for 15-20 minutes
My macaroni is smooth and creamy.
I normally used smoked Gouda, Pepper Jack and Mozzerilla blended together.
And this is what I am having for dinner tonight.
Enjoy.

 

[Pearl]

My mac and cheese recipe:
Cook macaroni like normal.
Do Not Drain. place chunks of freshly cubed cheese or freshly shredded cheese in macaroni .
Salt and Pepper, if adding ham omit the salt.
Stir constantly because you don't want it to scorch.
Place in 9 x 13 glass baking dish top with shredded cheese, homemade toasted breadcrumbs or croutons.
Set oven for 350* for 15-20 minutes
My macaroni is smooth and creamy.
I normally used smoked Gouda, Pepper Jack and Mozzerilla blended together.
And this is what I am having for dinner tonight.
Enjoy.

I am SO going to try this!! Thanks Mo!!

 

[Weedygarden]

My mac and cheese recipe:
Cook macaroni like normal.
Do Not Drain. place chunks of freshly cubed cheese or freshly shredded cheese in macaroni .
Salt and Pepper, if adding ham omit the salt.
Stir constantly because you don't want it to scorch.
Place in 9 x 13 glass baking dish top with shredded cheese, homemade toasted breadcrumbs or croutons.
Set oven for 350* for 15-20 minutes
My macaroni is smooth and creamy.
I normally used smoked Gouda, Pepper Jack and Mozzerilla blended together.
And this is what I am having for dinner tonight.
Enjoy.

How much cheese do you use (in pounds)?

 

[MoBookworm1957]

How much cheese do you use (in pounds)?

Probably a cup, cup and half being I don't always use measuring cup.
3 handfuls between the three cheeses.

 

[Pearl]

Probably a cup, cup and half being I don't always use measuring cup.
3 handfuls between the three cheeses.

This is exactly how I cook, and why I can't bake!!

 

[MoBookworm1957]

This is exactly how I cook, and why I can't bake!!

I bake just fine.

 

[12icemaker]

My cheese of choice in NOT HOT mac and cheese is extra sharp natural cheddar just chopped up with a big knife. and added with the milk as it melts.

For hot, natural Pepper Jack with some hot Jalapenos and Cayenne.

 

[Weedygarden]

This is exactly how I cook, and why I can't bake!!

Baking does require following directions more carefully. I do remember a neighbor girl when I was growing up being a little loosy goosy about measuring things like vanilla. She didn't use measuring spoons, but would just grab a regular teaspoon and guestimate her measurement. I've always been a little more exacting when I am baking, but a little more loosy goosy when cooking.

 

[Supervisor42]

My cheese of choice in NOT HOT mac and cheese is extra sharp natural cheddar just chopped up with a big knife. and added with the milk as it melts.

For hot, natural Pepper Jack with some hot Jalapenos and Cayenne.

Yep. People waste time dirtying up a cheese-grater shredding the cheese.
If you put it back on the stove eye and stir, sliced cheese works just as well.
Plus, it is a bonus when you're eating your mac&cheese and encounter a cheese-chunk to gobble down!

 

[Shawn Burkett]

Baking does require following directions more carefully. I do remember a neighbor girl when I was growing up being a little loosy goosy about measuring things like vanilla. She didn't use measuring spoons, but would just grab a regular teaspoon and guestimate her measurement. I've always been a little more exacting when I am baking, but a little more loosy goosy when cooking.

I measure my spoons when I get them. So I know when I have to round up or down to equal a tablespoon or teaspoon. Most are fairly close. Measure your dipping ladles too. They are usually around 1/2 cup. Not much requires exact measurements.

My Granny used to say you can never add to much vanilla. I always add more than the recipe calls for.

 

[Weedygarden]

My Granny used to say you can never add to much vanilla. I always add more than the recipe calls for.

I do the same with vanilla and almond flavoring, add some extra.

 

[Weedygarden]

My daughter makes great nacho cheese sauce. She told me she uses sodium citrate. It keeps the cheeses from separating and being grainy. This works for cheese sauce for mac and cheese as well.

 

[Shawn Burkett]

Interesting. Sodium citrate is derived from citric acid. It can also be used as an emulsifier in food. That makes sense. Wonder if it could be used in salad dressing to keep it from separating. It's also used in the treatment of gout and kidney disease.

 

[Magpie]

I don't really have a recipe for mac and cheese, just make it from memory. Basically white sauce (butter and flour to make a roux, add milk gradually) and grate in cheddar cheese. Before that though, I add a spoonful of English mustard.

 

[Magus]

I have several.

Cheeseburger casserole:
1 box of the Mac n cheese.
1 cup of American cheese, shredded.
1 cup of browned hamburger.
1/4 cup of diced onion.
1/4 cup of crumbled bacon.
1 can of drained, cubed tomatoes
Serve on a bed of lettuce with a dill pickle on the side, croutons, and a light mayonnaise sauce.

Phillie cheese steak style:
1 1 Lb package of strip steak.
stir fry done.
In the grease add:
1/2 cup of diced onion.
1 diced bell pepper.
1 cup of chopped mushrooms.
1 diced chili pepper.
Saute until fully cooked.
1/8 cup of 1000 island dressing OR one large gob of mayo.
Stir it into a box of cooked and drained Macaroni.
add 1 cup of shredded Mozzarella cheese and 1/2 of the powder.
Bake until it has crispy spots.
Serve with Italian bread grilled in light butter.

Mal's KILLER casserole:
1 Lb of fried and crumbled hamburger.
1 box of Macaroni, cooked and drained.
1 cup of cooked mushrooms fried in hamburger grease.
1/2 cup of minced onion fried with the mushrooms.
Drain all the grease and add two cans of cream of mushroom soup.
Cover in crushed crackers and bake for fifteen minutes.

After school special:
One box of mac, cooked and drained.
1 can of drained chicken breast.
1 can of mushrooms
1 can of cream of chicken soup. bring to a simmer and.
Let sit covered for 30 minutes before serving, stir at least twice.

This one is best for the three-color rotini. I call it a bean casserole.
1 box of cooked, rinsed, and drained Rotini.
1/2 cup of minced onion.
2 packages of Lipton onion soup.
Stir in two cups of cooked and drained pinto beans.
stir in 1 cup of Italian dressing.
Stir in 1 cup of brown vinegar.
Let marinate for at least an hour, but overnight is best.
Serve with Pizza or ravioli.

The quickie tuna bomb.
1 can of chunk tuna and juice.
1 can of veg all mixed vegetables, well-drained
2 cans of mushroom soup.
Stir into a pot of macaroni, cover in crushed potato chips, and bake until the chips turn brown around the edges. garnish with chopped onion tops or parsley.

The church social:
1 cup of chopped cauliflower.
1 cup of chopped broccoli.
1 cup of carrot strings. (Or less)
1/4 cup of onion.
Stir into your cooking macaroni, drain well, and stir in 1/4 cup of cream, bring to a simmer, and bomb it with shredded three cheese, about a cup will do. mix well and drape with cooked crispy bacon.

Simple Simon.
Add a pot of drained and cooked macaroni in ONE of three soups, cream of chicken, cream of mushroom, or zesty tomato. Season as needed.

Chili Mac Deluxe:
Brown 1 pound of hamburger and crumble it.
add 1/2 cup of shredded onion.
2 chopped Jalapeno peppers.
2 cans of Wolf chili, simmer for ten minutes, and add to the cooked macaroni, you can add cheese or not.

 

[Magus]

This is IF you juice/can tomatoes.
Boil up the Mac, and save the cheese for something else.
Add it to a quart of tomatoes, juice and all and add 1/4 cup of onion and a dash of basil.
Simmer until the onion is done.
Serve up on biscuits or cornbread with lots of real butter.

Desert: the cherry bomb!
I box of cooked macaroni.
2 boxes of cherry Jello.
While the jello is still hot, stir in 1/2 a block of cream cheese and one can of cherry pie filling.
Ladle it over the Mac, mix well, and chill overnight.

 

[Magus]

Layered cheesy mac supreme. you need a very large square baking dish.

boil and drain two boxes of macaroni, rinse and drain and divide them into three equal parts.
put down 1/3rd, bomb it with shredded American cheese and 1 cup each of diced broccoli and cauliflower. DO NOT stir, it has to be a layer of cheese and veggies.

The second layer, put down another third add a package each of shredded mozzarella cheese and a package of bacon or 1 1/2 cups of ham cubes.

The third layer is easy, a layer of cheddar cheese and a can of drained mushrooms spread evenly, sprinkle with croutons, and bake until bubbly.

 

[Weedygarden]

Interesting. Sodium citrate!

 

[Weedygarden]

 

[Weedygarden]

I'd skip the crust.

 

[Pearl]

The crust kinda looks good!

 

[Mountain trapper]

The other day at the store I saw Mac and Cheese in a can. I was tempted to try out a can.