Mac & Cheese has to be the most family friendly dish ever invented….nutritious, delicious, and easy to make. Who doesn’t love that? Once you have your basic “mac” down, you can add anything you like, from fancy and gourmet to something just for the kids, turning your beloved casserole into a build-your-own bar makes this a fun activity for the whole gang!
Four Cheese Mac & Cheese
*Note: you can use any cheese you like but try to stick to better quality cheese, it will melt better
1 lb. pasta (we like corkscrew)
1 lb. sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
½ cup smoked gouda cheese, shredded (we used a creamy cheese this time)
½ cup provolone or fontina cheese, shredded
½ cup asiago or real parmesan, shredded
4 T salted butter
4 T flour
3 cups of milk (we like 2% for this)
1 t dried onion powder
½ t prepared mustard
¼ t ground nutmeg
¼ t cayenne pepper
Salt and pepper to taste
1 ½ panko or Italian breadcrumbs
Mix-ins
Bacon, pancetta chorizo or shredded short ribs
Buffalo chicken or diced chicken nuggets
Diced peppers, tomatoes, chives, broccoli, asparagus tips, jalapeños
Lobster, smoked salmon, crayfish
· Heat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 3 quart baking dish with non-stick spray. Bring a large pot of salted (like the ocean) water to boiling.
· Toss the shredded cheeses together in a large bowl, set aside.
· Melt butter in a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour until smooth and slightly bubbly, whisk until golden in color
· In a thin stream, whisk in the milk until smooth, whisk in all spices; bring to a boil over medium high heat, then reduce and simmer 3 minutes. Remove from heat; whisk about ¾ of the cheese mixture into the sauce and stir until smooth. Cover to retain the heat.
· Once pasta is cooked to desired doneness, drain leaving about ½ cup of the pasta water in the pan, return pasta and stir in cheese sauce until well mixed.
· Pour mac and cheese into individual serving dishes, leaving room on top for additions and breadcrumbs.
· Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until the Panko crumbs are lightly browned and the cheese is bubbly. Cool slightly before serving.
Sonroja Sunset
Using a tall glass with ice, fill halfway with Sonroja Rosé Wine (or any rosé). Fill remaining space with soda water and a splash of fresh orange juice. Garnish with orange and strawberries.