Macaroni And Cheese Bites 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.

MINI MAC & CHEESE BITES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°. Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain., Meanwhile, sprinkle 1/4 cup bread crumbs into 36 greased mini-muffin cups. In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in flour and seasonings until smooth; gradually whisk in milk. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly; cook and stir 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in 1 cup cheddar cheese and Swiss cheese until melted., Remove from heat; stir in biscuit mix, eggs and 1/2 cup bread crumbs. Add macaroni; toss to coat. Spoon about 2 tablespoons macaroni mixture into prepared mini-muffin cups; sprinkle with remaining cheddar cheese and bread crumbs., Bake 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. Cool in pans 5 minutes before serving.

MACARONI AND CHEESE BITES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425°F.
• In a large pan of boiling salted water, cook the macaroni until al dente. Drain well, shaking off any excess water.
• Brush mini muffin tins (48 mini-cups total) with butter. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of the Parmesan.
• In a large saucepan, melt the 1 1/2 tablespoons of butter. Whisk in the flour and mustard over moderate heat for 2 minutes. Whisk in the milk and cook, constantly whisking, until boiling, about 5 minutes. Add the cheddar and American cheeses and whisk until melted. Mixture will be very thick. Remove from heat, and whisk in the egg yolk and paprika. Fold in the macaroni.
• Spoon slightly rounded tablespoons of the macaroni into the prepared muffin cups, packing well. Sprinkle the remaining Parmesan on top.
• Bake for about 10 minutes, until golden and sizzling. Let cool for 5 minutes. Carefully loosen the mini macs, remove from pan to a platter, and serve.
• These can be prepared through Step 4 and refrigerated overnight.

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 BITES

Steps:

• Melt butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Add macaroni and American cheese; stir until cheese is mostly melted, about 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low; mix in milk.
• Set oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven on the low broil setting. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Spread pretzels crackers on the prepared baking sheet; top each with a slice of sausage. Spoon 1 tablespoon macaroni and cheese mixture over sausage. Sprinkle black pepper on top.
• Bake under the preheated broiler until American cheese and pretzels start to brown, 1 to 2 minutes.

LOBSTER MAC AND CHEESE BITES

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the macaroni according to the package directions for al dente. Drain and set aside.
• Melt 3 tablespoons of the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Whisk in 1/4 cup of the flour and cook until bubbling, about 1 minute. Whisk in the milk and 2 teaspoons salt and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce to medium heat and cook, whisking occasionally, until thickened and the flour taste is gone, about 6 minutes. Remove from the heat and whisk in the Parmesan and mascarpone until melted and smooth. Fold in the macaroni, lobster and chopped tarragon.
• Put the Muenster and Gruyere in a large bowl. Add the macaroni mixture and fold until just combined. Spread the mixture evenly over a quarter baking sheet and freeze until just solid, about 1 hour.
• Set up a breading station with 3 shallow dishes: Mix 1 teaspoon salt and the remaining 1 cup flour in the first dish. Beat the eggs and 1 teaspoon salt in the second dish and add the breadcrumbs and 1 teaspoon salt to the third dish.
• Cut the chilled macaroni mixture into 1-inch squares with a paring knife. Coat each square in the flour, then dip in the egg, letting any excess drip off. Press into the breadcrumbs and transfer to a baking sheet. Freeze for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, fill a large, heavy-bottomed pot with 2 inches of oil and set over medium-high heat. Heat until a deep-frying thermometer registers 375 degrees F.
• Fry the breaded macaroni squares in batches until golden brown on the outside and hot in the middle, about 2 minutes. Bring the oil temperature back up between batches.
• After the last batch, bring the oil temperature back up again. Add the tarragon leaves, parsley and chives in 1/4-cup batches to the hot oil and fry until the water is released and the herbs are no longer bubbling, about 30 seconds. Drain on paper towels and season with salt.
• Put the lemon zest and remaining 8 tablespoons butter in a small saute pan and heat until melted and foamy.
• Drizzle the mac and cheese squares with the lemon butter and sprinkle with the fried herbs. Serve with lemon wedges.

FRIED MACARONI-AND-CHEESE BITES

Steps:

• In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook macaroni until al dente according to package instructions; drain.
• In pot, melt 4 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour, and cook, stirring frequently, until mixture is pale golden and has a nutty aroma, about 4 minutes. Whisking constantly, slowly add milk. Cook, whisking along bottom of pot, until boiling, about 7 minutes. Reduce heat and gently simmer, stirring occasionally, until sauce is thickened, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from heat, and add remaining 1 tablespoon butter, the mustard powder, and cheese. Stir until melted and sauce is smooth; season with salt. Add macaroni to sauce, and stir to combine.
• Line a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with parchment; brush parchment lightly with oil. Spread macaroni mixture evenly in dish. Cover and refrigerate until firm, at least 8 hours.
• Invert set macaroni and cheese onto a cutting board and remove parchment. Cut into 1-inch squares with a sharp knife.
• Whisk eggs in a shallow dish. In a shallow dish, season panko with salt. Dip macaroni squares, a few at a time, in eggs, allowing excess to drip off into dish, then roll in panko mixture to coat completely. Transfer to a wire rack set on a baking sheet.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium until shimmering. Working in batches, add coated squares in a single layer (do not crowd pan); cook, turning occasionally, until all sides are crisp and golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes total. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined rack to drain and cool slightly. Wipe skillet clean. Repeat process with more oil and remaining squares. Serve warm.

BUFFALO MACARONI AND CHEESE BITES

Steps:

• Set the cheese packet from dinner mix aside. In a large saucepan, bring water to a boil. Add macaroni; cook until tender, 8-10 minutes. Drain. Stir in the contents of the cheese packet, milk, cheese sauce and butter., Press 2 tablespoonfuls into greased miniature muffin cups. Cover and refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight., Place the hot sauce, flour, egg and onions in separate shallow bowls. Remove macaroni bites from cups. Dip in the hot sauce and flour, then coat with egg and onions. Place 2 in. apart on a lightly greased baking sheet., Bake at 400° until golden brown, 12-15 minutes. Serve with dressing.