Friday, March 5, 2021

Rich’s mac and cheese recipe

Rich has been telling me about this awesome Mac and cheese he used to make when he worked in Colorado  since I met him 6 years ago and now finally he made this for me and it was worth the wait ! 




Ingredients 
Elbow macaroni ( we used the brown rice and quinoa kind ) -1 pound 
Salt - 2 tsp or to taste 

Sauce :
Unsalted butter - 1 stick ( plus 2 tsp)
All purpose flour - 1/2 cup ( can use other thickeners if you have celiac disease)
Whole milk - 6 cups 
Cayenne pepper - 1/4 tsp 
Cheddar cheese ( grated ) - 8 oz ( 3 cups ) - we used a cup each of cheddar , gruyere , havarti and package of plain cream cheese 
Paprika - 1/2 tsp 
Garlic powder-1/2 tsp
Onion powder -1/2 tsp

Topping 
Panko bread crumbs - 1 cup 
Paprika - 1/2 tsp 
Garlic powder - 1/2 tsp 
Onion powder - 1/2 tsp 
Olive oil - ( extra virgin olive oil ) - 1/4 cup
Mix all of these together for topping 



Instructions 
1. Preheat oven to 375 F
2. Coat the inside of a 3 quart casserole dish with 2 tsp of butter and set aside 



3. Place a deep pot of salted water on the stove and bring to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until tender but firm ( al dente)

4. When done drain the water out using a colander and put in the casserole dish5. While the pasta is boiling make the cheese sauce 


6. In a medium heavy bottomed saucepan melt the stick of butter ( on medium heat)



7. Stir in the flour and whisk it constantly until it is thickened into a blonde roux ( about 4 minutes)



8. Add the salt and 1/2 tsp cayenne to it and stir. 
9. Add the garlic powder, paprika, onion powder to the mixture and stir
10.Now gradually add the cold milk whisking constantly until the mixture thickens ( about 4 min)


11.  Bring to a simmer and now add the cheeses whisking until the cheese is melted completely 





12. Remove from the heat 
13. Carefully pour the cheese sauce over the macaroni 



14. Gently stir / fold it in so that all the macaroni pieces are coated in the cheese sauce 
15. Place the topping mixture on top of the macaroni and spread evenly



16. Bake for about 20 minutes until the topping is golden brown 
17. Mac and cheese is ready to serve 






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