Kiddie Mac N Cheese Food

DELILAH'S 7 CHEESE MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook until slightly al dente, about 10 minutes. Drain and set aside to keep warm.
• Whisk the eggs in a large bowl until frothy.
• Add the Velveeta, butter and 2 cups of the half-and-half to the large bowl of eggs. Add the warm macaroni tossing until the cheese has melted and the mixture is smooth. Add the remaining half-and-half, 3 cups of the sharp yellow Cheddar, the remaining grated cheeses, and salt and pepper, tossing until completely combined in the large bowl.
• Pour the mixture into 9 by 13-inch casserole or baking dishes (approximately 3 (3-quart) baking dishes) and bake for 30 minutes. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup of sharp yellow cheese and bake until golden brown on top, about 30 minutes more.
• Serve hot.

DRESSED UP MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Cook the macaroni according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• In a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the flour, whisk until a paste is formed and cook for 1 minute. Slowly add 1/4 cup of the milk at a time, whisking constantly, until you've added 2 cups. Whisk in the soup base or bouillon, garlic powder and pepper.
• Slowly add the Colby-Jack blend, cream cheese and 1 cup of the Cheddar cheese, making sure the cheese melts between each addition. When the cheese is completely melted, check for consistency; add up to an additional 1/2 cup milk if needed. Stir to completely combine.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the drained macaroni and 2 cups of the cheese sauce. Transfer the macaroni mixture to the chilled springform pan of Andouille Dressing, spreading and packing the contents evenly. Spread 1/2 cup of the cheese sauce over the top with the remaining 1 cup shredded Cheddar.
• Bake until heated through, about 35 minutes. Turn the oven to broil and broil until the top is crisped, another 5 to 7 minutes. Let stand for 15 minutes before removing from the pan and serving.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Spray a 10-inch cast-iron skillet with cooking spray.
• To make the cornbread, add the milk, butter and 1 of the eggs to a large mixing bowl and whisk together. Add the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder and a pinch of salt and stir to combine; the batter should look lumpy. Transfer the batter to the greased skillet and bake until golden brown on top, 22 to 25 minutes. Let cool. Keep the oven at 400 degrees F.
• Meanwhile, lightly grease two 9-inch springform pans with cooking spray.
• Put a pan over medium-high heat and add just enough oil to coat the bottom. Add the sausage and cook until crisp around the edges, 5 to 7 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the sausage to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. To the same pan, add the onion, green pepper, celery and garlic and cook until the veggies are tender, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Crumble the cooled cornbread into a large mixing bowl. Add the cooked veggies and sausage and mix together gently. Beat the remaining egg in a small bowl. Add it to the cornbread mixture with the sage, soup base or bouillon, pepper and 1/4 teaspoon salt; mix together gently. Add the broth 1/4 cup at a time until the dressing reaches the desired consistency. It should be loose but not runny--3/4 to 1 cup will be plenty.
• Transfer the dressing to the prepared springform pans. Bake until cooked through, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool completely.

KIDS CAN MAKE: MAC 'N' CHEESE BITES

Steps:

• Position oven racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven, and preheat to 400 degrees F. Line 2 or 3 mini-muffin pans with liners, and coat the liners generously with cooking spray.
• Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook according to the package directions until al dente. Drain the macaroni and rinse under cold water until cool. Drain again and shake off any excess water.
• Put the heavy cream, cream cheese, eggs, mustard, paprika and garlic in a large bowl. Beat on low speed with an electric mixer until combined (the mixture may have small lumps). Add the macaroni, Cheddar and Monterey jack, and stir until combined.
• Drop heaping tablespoonfuls of the mac 'n' cheese into the prepared muffin liners. Combine the breadcrumbs and butter with your fingers in a small bowl until the mixture is the texture of wet sand. Sprinkle the top of each mac 'n' cheese mound with the buttered breadcrumbs.
• Bake until the cheese is melted and the bites are golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool for at least 5 minutes before serving hot or at room temperature. Serve with hot sauce on the side, if desired.

BUFFALO CHICKEN MAC 'N' CHEESE

Steps:

• Position an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Place the chicken in a 13-by-9-inch baking dish. Toss with the hot sauce, celery salt, 4 tablespoons melted butter and black pepper to taste. Bake until the chicken is tender and cooked through, about 30 minutes. Increase the oven temperature to 425 degrees F.
• Shred the chicken and transfer to a medium bowl, along with any juices from the baking dish. Cover loosely with plastic wrap, and set aside. Wipe out the baking dish with a paper towel and brush with 1 tablespoon melted butter. Set aside.
• Meanwhile, in a medium skillet over medium heat, melt 6 tablespoons butter. Add the panko and cayenne and season with some salt. Saute until deeply golden, stirring constantly, 4 to 6 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the thyme. Stir to combine and set aside.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it generously. Add the pasta and cook to slightly less than al dente, about 3 minutes less than the package instructions. Drain.
• In a medium pot over medium heat, melt the remaining 3 tablespoons butter. When the foaming subsides, add the celery and onion. Cook until softened, 4 minutes. Add the flour and stir to coat. Continue to cook, stirring, 1 minute. Gradually add the milk, whisking continuously, and bring to a simmer. Add the Cheddar, gruyere and Parmigiano-Reggiano and whisk until the cheeses are melted and the sauce is smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Add the pasta to the cheese sauce and stir to coat evenly. Transfer to the prepared baking dish. Top with the chicken mixture and half of the blue cheese. Sprinkle with the breadcrumbs and bake until bubbling around the edges and completely warmed through, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Top with the remaining crumbles of blue cheese and celery leaves. Serve immediately.

OLD FASHIONED BAKED MAC 'N CHEESE

Steps:

• Cook macaroni noodles in salted water until just before being tender. (Noodles will continue to bake in dish.).
• While noodles are cooking, beat eggs in a large bowl.
• Add milk to eggs and stir in all other ingredients except the 8 ounces of cheese.
• Combine drained noodles with egg mixture.
• Pour into buttered 9 x 13 inch baking dish.
• Begin baking at 450 degrees for 15 minutes. Then reduce heat to 375 degrees and bake 15 more minutes until becomes bubbly and slight brown at edges. Sprinkle 8 ounces of cheese on top and bake for last 5 minutes. Do not over bake. Remove from oven and let sit for 5 minutes.

OOEY GOOEY MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add garlic; cook until fragrant. Stir in flour, mustard powder, garlic powder, Worcestershire powder, salt, and black pepper. Whisk in half-and-half. Simmer, stirring constantly, until sauce thickens, about 5 minutes. Add processed cheese, Parmesan cheese, and Cheddar cheese; stir until melted.
• Pour cheese sauce over cooked pasta; stir well to combine.

KIDDIE MAC 'N' CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat large pot of lightly salted water to boiling. Add pasta and cook 11 minutes, according to package directions. Drain.
• Add milk to pasta pot and heat over medium heat. Sprinkle in American and Cheddar cheeses and the salt and whisk until melted and smooth.
• Return macaroni to pot with cheese sauce and stir to combine. Serve warm.

KIDDIE MACARONI SALAD

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, toss together cooled cooked pasta, celery, onion, peas, ham and cheese.
• In a small mixing bowl, whisk together mayo, vinegar, sugar, mustard, ketchup, salt, pepper, dill and paprika until well-blended.
• Pour mayo dressing mixture over salad mixture and stir to coat well.

KILEN'S ULTIMATE MACARONI-N-CHEESE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, 8 minutes. Drain and return pasta to pot. Stir butter and milk into macaroni until sauce is smooth.
• Mix croutons and mozzarella cheese into macaroni and cheese until cheese is melted.

CREAMY MACARONI AND CHEESE FOR ONE

Steps:

• In small bowl, combine crushed saltines with 1 tablespoon melted butter.
• In pot, melt remaining 1 tablespoon butter, then add flour, salt, and pepper.
• Whisk in milk until smooth and cook for 2 minutes.
• Lower heat and add all remaining ingredients, stirring until cheese is melted.
• Pour into greased 1 cup baking dish (ramiken) and sprinkle with buttered saltine crumbs.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

KID'S FAVORITE BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• 1. Cook macaroni al dente following package directions. Drain and set aside.
• 2. In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add flour, salt and pepper, and stir until smooth. Slowly add milk and continue stirring until mixture begins to boil and thicken.
• 3. In a lightly greased 9 x 13 inch baking pan, spread half of cooked macaroni and sprinkle with half of cubed Velvetta cheese and half of shredded mozzarella cheese. Pour half of milk mixture on top. Repeat with a second layer and sprinkle bread crumbs on top.
• 4. Bake in a preheated, 350-degree oven for 35 to 45 minutes, or until hot and bubbly. If desired, broil for 1 or 2 minutes to toast bread crumbs.