Slimmed Down Macaroni And Cheese Food

MACARONI AND CHEESE CARBONARA

Steps:

• Set an oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook until it is al dente, about 6 minutes. Strain, reserving 1 3/4 cups of the pasta water. Set aside.
• Cook the bacon in a large saucepan over medium heat until it is crispy and most of the fat has been rendered, about 15 minutes. Transfer the bacon to a paper-towel-lined plate. Pour the fat into a small heat-safe measuring cup. Add enough olive oil to total 1/4 cup of fat. Reserve.
• Carefully wipe out the saucepan (or give it a quick rinse if it is really dirty). Add the half-and-half and 2 teaspoons pepper and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook until reduced to 1 1/2 cups, about 15 minutes. Add the cream cheese and stir until melted. Whisk in the Cheddar and Gruyere until all the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth.
• Add the macaroni and the reserved pasta water to the saucepan and stir to combine. (It will look very loose, but the pasta will suck up a lot of the sauce as it bakes.) Season to taste with salt if needed. Gently fold in the bacon and 3/4 of the sliced scallions. Pour into a 13-by-9-inch baking dish.
• Toss the bread crumbs with the reserved bacon-fat mixture and a pinch of salt in a medium bowl. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the top of the macaroni and cheese and bake until the cheese is bubbly and the bread crumbs are lightly browned and crispy, about 10 minutes. Garnish with the remaining scallions and serve.

DOWN HOME MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bring 6 quarts of water to a boil. Add the salt and reboil before adding the pasta. Cook the pasta according to the package directions; about 10 to 12 minutes. While the pasta is cooking, heat the butter over medium heat in a saucepan until it begins to bubble but do not let it brown. Whisk in the flour to create a roux for the white sauce base. Cook the flour and butter, over low heat, for 5 to 7 minutes, add the hot milk in a steady stream. Cook the white sauce for 10 minutes. Add the salt, pepper, mustard, cayenne pepper, Colby and Cheddar cheeses and cook for 2 minutes over low heat. Drain the pasta and place into a baking casserole dish large enough to hold the pasta and all of the sauce. Add the cheese sauce by pouring over the top. Sprinkle the bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese over the top and bake for 15 minutes or until the top is well browned and crusty.;

SLIMMED DOWN MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Spray a 4-quart slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray. In a small saucepan, heat the mustard, cornstarch, pepper and evaporated milk until warmed through, whisking occasionally. Stir in the cheese.
• Pour the macaroni into the slow cooker. Top with the cheese mixture and stir. Cover and cook on low for 1-2 hours or on high for 30 minutes.

SLIMMED DOWN - BISON PATTY MELT

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Add the onions, and cook until golden brown and caramelized, about 15 minutes. When caramelized add Worcestershire and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Put the onions in a bowl.
• Meanwhile, divide the meat into 4 portions, and then press each one into an oval patty about the size of the slices of bread.
• Wipe out the skillet and add another 1 tablespoon of oil. Season the patties with salt and pepper and cook over medium-high heat in batches if needed until well browned, about 3 to 4 minutes per side for medium-rare burgers.
• Lay the bread on the counter. Divide the onions among 4 bread slices and top with a slice of cheese, a patty, another slice of cheese, and a slice of bread.
• Heat the remaining olive oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Cook the sandwiches, in batches if needed, turning once, until the bread is lightly browned and the cheese has melted, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Halve the melts and serve.

DOWN HOME MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Melt 3 tablespoons of the butter in large saucepan on low heat.
• Blend in flour and salt; cook and stir 1 minute.
• Gradually add milk; cook, stirring constantly, until thickened.
• Add prepared cheese product and 1-1/2 cups of the shredded cheese; stir until melted. Stir in macaroni.
• Pour into lightly greased 1-1/2-quart casserole.
• Melt remaining 1 Tablespoon butter; toss with bread crumbs.
• Sprinkle casserole with remaining 1/2 cup cheese and bread crumb mixture.
• Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

SKINNY MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• 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.
• Mix water and powdered milk together in a bowl; set aside.
• Melt butter over medium heat in a saucepan. Add milk mixture, flour, Worcestershire sauce, and salt. Stir until thick, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in Cheddar cheese until melted, 2 to 3 minutes more. Pour sauce over cooked macaroni and pour mixture into a 9x13-inch baking pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until bubbly, about 30 minutes.

MAKEOVER CREAMY MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Cook macaroni according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, melt butter. Stir in flour until smooth. Gradually add milk and broth. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. , Reduce heat; stir in the sour cream, process cheese, Parmesan, mustard and pepper until smooth. , Drain macaroni; stir in cheddar cheese. Transfer to a 13x9-in. baking dish coated with cooking spray. Add cream sauce and mix well. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until bubbly. Sprinkle with chives if desired.