Christys Baked Mac N Jack Food

CRISPY BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Butter a shallow 2-quart baking dish; set aside. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs for al dente. Reserve 1 cup cooking water, then drain.
• Meanwhile, melt 4 tablespoons butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook, whisking, until smooth and lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in the milk until smooth. Add the bay leaf, cayenne and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook, whisking occasionally, until the sauce comes to a simmer and thickens slightly, 7 to 8 minutes.
• Remove the bay leaf from the sauce and whisk in the monterey jack, gruyere and cheddar one cheese at a time, allowing each cheese to melt before adding more. Add the pasta and stir until coated, adding the reserved cooking water as needed to loosen (the sauce will thicken as it bakes).
• Transfer the pasta mixture to the prepared baking dish. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in the microwave. Add the panko, parmesan and a pinch of salt; stir to combine. Scatter over the pasta and bake until the crumbs are browned and crisp, 15 to 20 minutes.

MAC AND JACK AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook according to the directions on the package, 6-8 minutes. Drain well.
• Meanwhile, heat the milk in a small saucepan, but don't boil it (I sometimes just microwave). Melt 6 tablespoons of butter in a large (4 qt.) pot and add the flour. Cook over low heat for 2 minutes, stirring with a whisk. While whisking, add the hot milk a little at a time and cook for a minutes or two more, until thickened and smooth. Off the heat, add the pepper jack, cheddar, salt, and pepper. Add the cooked macaroni and stir well. Pour into a 3 quart baking dish.
• Slice the tomato and arrange on top with the jalapenos. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, combine butter with bread crumbs, and sprinkle on top. Bake 30-35 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and macaroni is browned on the top. If you want it more browned, try broiling ti for 2 minutes at the end.

BAKED MACARONI WITH FOUR CHEESES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350ºF (180ºC). Lightly coat 13 x 9-inch (33 x 22 cm) baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain and set aside.
• Meanwhile, coat large saucepan with cooking spray and set over medium-high heat. Sauté onions until soft, about 5 minutes. Put 1/2 cup (125 mL) half-and-half and flour into jar with tight-fitting lid and shake until blended and smooth.
• Stir onions in skillet, then blend in remaining half-and-half. Whisk in mustard, salt, and pepper and bring to a simmer. Continue cooking, whisking constantly, until mixture thickens, about 3 minutes.
• Add cheddar, mozzarella, Monterey Jack, and cream cheese. Cook, stirring, until cheeses melt. Remove from heat and fold in macaroni. Spoon mixture into baking dish and sprinkle with paprika. Bake until bubbly and lightly browned, about 35 minutes.

CRUSTY MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Use one tablespoon butter to thickly grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
• Combine grated cheeses and set aside two heaping cups for topping.
• In a large bowl, toss together the cooked pasta, cheeses, cayenne (if using) and salt to taste. Place mixture in prepared pan and evenly pour milk over surface.
• Sprinkle reserved cheese on top; dot with remaining butter.
• Bake, uncovered, for 45 minutes.
• Raise heat to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and bake 15 to 20 minutes more, until crusty on top and bottom.

CHEF JOHN'S ROCKY ROAD

Steps:

• Combine dark chocolate chips, butter, and maple syrup in a heat-safe bowl and place over a saucepan filled with about 1 inch of hot water set over the lowest heat setting on the stovetop. Allow mixture to melt; do not stir.
• While mixture melts, line an 8x8-inch baking pan with plastic wrap.
• Slowly stir melted chocolate mixture together with a spatula until shiny and smooth. Remove from heat and stir in marshmallows and almonds until combined.
• Quickly transfer mixture into the prepared baking pan. Distribute evenly but do not smooth or press down the top--try to preserve a rough texture on the top. Let cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until well chilled and firm, about 2 hours.
• Sift cocoa over the top and cut into 16 squares.

CRUSTY BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 400ºF.
• Boil pasta al dente.
• Drain and put the pasta in one layer in a large shallow casserole.
• Whisk the milk and flour until well blended. Salt and pepper to taste.
• Pour the milk & flour mixture over the pasta.
• Dot the butter all over the pasta.
• Sprinkle the cheese over the top of the pasta to cover it fully.
• Bake for 30-40 minutes until top is browned and crusty.
• If desired, after about 20 minutes, you can put the casserole under the broiler to brown the top faster.