Classic Macaroni And Cheese With Smoked Bacon Aged Cheddar And Fresh Sage Food

CLASSIC BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until it's barely al dente. (It should be more al dente than your average pasta: It's going to continue to cook in the oven.) Drain and set aside.
• Meanwhile, heat butter in a medium pot over medium heat. (The pot should be large enough to hold all the pasta when cooked.) Whisk in flour and cook, whisking constantly, until the flour is foamy and just starting to turn a light golden brown, about 4 minutes. Slowly whisk in milk to avoid clumping. Add garlic, paprika and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, whisking constantly and paying special attention to the edges of the pot to make sure the flour mixture is totally incorporated.
• Add grated cheese and whisk to blend until the cheese is completely melted. (The sauce will seem thick at first and thin out as the cheese melts; it will thicken while it bakes.) Season with salt and pepper and add cooked pasta, stirring to coat well.
• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil (to catch any cheesy drips).
• Make the optional topping: Combine bread crumbs, melted butter and Parmesan, if using, in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper and, using your hands, mix well to ensure the bread crumbs are evenly coated.
• Transfer the macaroni and cheese mixture to a 3-quart or 9 x 13 baking dish and scatter bread crumbs, if using, evenly over the top. Place on prepared baking sheet and bake until macaroni and cheese is bubbling, thickened and creamy, and bread crumbs are evenly golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving.

CLASSIC MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain.
• Melt the butter in the bottom of an oven-proof fry pan. Add the flour and stir over heat until just beginning to brown - don't let it get too brown. Take it off the heat and stir in about 1 cup of milk until the butter and flour mixture is fully incorporated. Put it back on the heat and simmer until just beginning to thicken, about 5 minutes. Add the rest of the milk; stir to fully incorporate.
• Add all of the cheeses and stir to melt. Once melted, add the cooked macaroni. Stir to mix.
• Cover the top of the mac and cheese with panko crumbs and place the pan in the oven. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until it is bubbling and the bread crumbs are slightly browned.

CLASSIC MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
• Grease a 2 quart casserole dish. Place a quarter of the macaroni in the bottom, followed by an even layer of one-quarter of the cheese slices. Dot with butter and season with salt and pepper. Repeat layering three times. Pour evaporated milk evenly over the top of all.
• Bake, uncovered, for one hour, or until top is golden brown.

CHEDDAR-BACON MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Cook macaroni as directed on package. Meanwhile, melt butter in large saucepan on low heat. Stir in flour; cook 2 min. or until bubbly. Gradually stir in milk; cook on medium heat until mixture comes to boil, stirring constantly. Simmer on low heat 3 to 5 min. or until thickened. Add 1 1/2 cups cheese; cook and stir 5 min. or until melted.
• Drain macaroni. Add to sauce with bacon; mix lightly. Spoon into 1 1/2 quart casserole; top with remaining cheese.
• Bake 20 min. or until heated through.

TILLAMOOK AGED CHEDDAR MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan whisk together the whipping cream, flour and butter.
• Heat and whisk continuously until the sauce thickens, boils and is smooth.
• Allow to simmer and additional two minutes.
• Add 3/4 of the cheese, the English mustard, nutmeg, salt and pepper.
• Continue to stir constantly until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth.
• Add amount of sauce needed to the still warm al dente elbow macaroni.
• Allow to stand for at least an hour before baking.
• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
• Mix the fresh bread crumbs with the left over cheese and toss on top of the macaroni.
• Bake until bubbling through and the bread crumb topping is browned.
• Freeze remaining sauce.

BAKED MACARONI AND CHEDDAR

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Bring water to a boil; cook macaroni to al dente stage according to package directions.
• Drain well.
• Melt butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat.
• Whisk in flour and cook, stirring constantly, for 2 minutes.
• Whisk in milk and continue cooking, stirring constantly, until sauce thickens, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in salt, pepper and paprika and remove from heat.
• Stir in 1/4 cup of the cheese.
• Spread half the macaroni over the bottom of a lightly greased 1 quart baking dish.
• Spread half the remaining cheese over the macaroni.
• Top with remaining macaroni.
• Pour sauce over the macaroni.
• Top with the remaining cheese.
• Bake until bubbly and lightly browned, about 20 minutes.
• Let rest 5 minutes before serving.