Mac N Cheese And A Bit More Food

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.

BREAKFAST MAC & CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Add onion and cook until soft, about 3-5 minutes. Add sausage and cook, breaking apart into bite size pieces, until browned. Stir in flour until completely combined then add the milk and bring to a simmer. Once the mixture has thickened, stir in the cream cheese, 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese and 1 1/2 cups monterey jack cheese until completely combined and melted.
• Fold in the cooked macaroni, tomatoes, salt and pepper and transfer to a 2-quart casserole dish. Top with tater tots, then use a spoon to create 6 wells and break eggs into each well. Top with remaining 1/2 cup shredded cheddar and monterey jack cheeses, avoiding covering the eggs. Bake until egg whites are set, about 12-15 minutes.
• Top with sliced scallions and serve.

MAC AND CHEESE BITES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F
• Bring a large pot of water to boil. Cook the pasta according to the package directions until just shy of al dente. Drain well.
• Meanwhile, lightly grease standard size muffin pans with cooking spray.
• In a medium bowl, combine the cracker crumbs, ½ cup of the shredded cheese, and melted butter and mix with a fork until combined. Spoon a bit of the mixture into the bottom of each muffin well and tamp down with the flat bottom of a glass or other.
• Once the pasta is cooked and drained, add it to a large mixing bowl with the remaining shredded cheese, the boursin and cold butter.
• In a liquid measuring cup, combine the eggs, milk, and sour cream and whisk to combine.
• Add the liquid mixture to the bowl with the pasta.
• Stir in the salt and red pepper flakes and mix until evenly combined.
• Divide the macaroni mixture between the prepared muffin wells.
• Bake until light golden, about 20-25 minutes. Let cool in the muffin pans at least 10-15 minutes, then carefully remove from the pan and serve warm.

MAC 'N' CHEESE BITES

Steps:

• To make the toppings, heat half the oil in a frying pan over a high heat, and cook the mushrooms for 10 mins until golden. Stir in half the garlic and the parsley, and fry for 1 min more. Season and scrape into a bowl. Heat the rest of the oil in the pan and fry the remaining garlic and the breadcrumbs for 3-5 mins, stirring until crisp. Scrape into a second bowl.
• Melt the butter in a saucepan over a medium heat, then stir in the flour to make a thick paste. Gradually add the milk, a splash at a time, whisking until it's all incorporated. Cook for 2-3 mins more until thickened. Meanwhile, cook the macaroni in a pan of boiling salted water for 5-6 mins. Stir the cheddar into the white sauce until all the cheese has melted, then fold in the macaroni.
• Butter a 12-hole muffin tin and divide the mac 'n' cheese between the holes, packing it in with the back of a spoon. Top with the mushroom mixture, olives or sundried tomato slices, then scatter over the grated cheese and garlic breadcrumbs. Will keep, covered in the fridge, for up to 24 hrs.
• Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Bake for 15 mins until golden and piping hot. Leave to cool for 10-15 mins in the tin, then loosen by running a spoon around the edges. Transfer to a plate.

MAC 'N CHEESE AND A BIT MORE

Steps:

• Brown meat in pan large enough to hold all ingredients.
• Add all other ingredients and mix well.
• Bring to boil, then lower heat to simmer and cover for about 10 to 15 minutes. Or until pasta is tender.
• Stiring occasionally.