Swiss Macaroni Food

ÄLPLERMAGRONEN (SWISS ALPINE MACARONI AND CHEESE)

Steps:

• To make the bacon lardons: add the bacon pieces to a cold frying pan and turn on the heat to medium heat. Cook lardons, stirring regularly, until the fat renders and the bacon is browned and crispy, about 8 to 10 minutes. Remove lardons with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel-lined plate.
• To make the caramelized onions: In a frying pan over medium-low heat melt the butter. Alternatively cook the onions in 2 tablespoons bacon fat if you are cooking bacon lardons for the garnish (just use the same frying pan and remove all but 2 tablespoons of the fat from the pan). Add the onions, season with salt, and cook, stirring regularly until soft and golden, about 30 minutes. Set aside.
• To make the applesauce: Place the apples in a saucepan with water and cover. Simmer gently on medium-low heat, stirring once or twice, until the apple is completely tender, about 20 minutes. Mash with a fork until smooth. Set aside.
• To make the macaroni: Add the cubed potatoes to a large pot and cover generously with salted water. Bring to a boil, add the macaroni and continue to cook until the macaroni is barely al dente and the potatoes are tender. The exact time will depend on the macaroni shape. It's about 10 minutes for ziti. If using a smaller shape with shorter cook time (like elbows which need only 6 minutes for al dente) you may want to boil the potatoes for a couple minutes on their own before adding the macaroni. Drain the macaroni and potatoes.
• Return to the drained macaroni and potatoes to the pot, add the cream and return to medium heat. Stir until the cream starts to heat up (a minute or so) and then add the grated cheese, a little salt, and a bit of freshly grated nutmeg. Keep stirring until the cheese has melted into a thick and luscious sauce.
• Serve the cheesy Alpine macaroni on individual plates topped with caramelized onions, crispy bacon lardons (optional), and with applesauce on the side to eat either with the macaroni or afterwards as dessert based on personal preference.

SWISS MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Cook macaroni according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, saute onion in butter until tender. Stir in flour until smooth; gradually add milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened., Add the cheese, salt and pepper. Drain macaroni. Add to cheese mixture; toss gently to coat.

SWISS - ALPINE MACARONI

Steps:

• Place the potatoes in a large pot and fill with enough water to cover them.
• Bring to a boil and cook until tender.
• Drain and cool slightly, then remove the peels, and slice into 1/4 inch thick slices.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and lightly grease a 9x9 inch baking pan.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil and add the macaroni and cook until barely tender, about 6 minutes, then drain and set aside.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the onion and cook and stir until onion starts to turn translucent.
• Next stir in the garlic, and cook for a few more minutes then remove from the heat and set aside.
• Layer the macaroni, onions and potatoes into the prepared baking dish and season with salt and pepper.
• Sprinkle the shredded Gruyere cheese over the top, and drizzle cream evenly over the entire dish and bake in the preheated oven until the top is golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes.

SWISS MACARONI CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350*F.
• Lightly butter a large ovenproof gratin dish.
• Cook the macaroni and potatoes in boiling salted water for 10 minutes, until just tender.
• Dry fry the bacon in a large non stick pan until lightly golden.
• Pour in the cream and season with nutmeg and fresh ground pepper.
• Drain the macaroni and potatoes well and stir them into the bacon and cream.
• Spoon half into the prepared dish, sprinkle with half the parmesan, then spoon remaining mixture on top, finishing off with remaining parmesan.
• Bake for 10 to 15 minutes until golden and bubbling.
• Meanwhile melt the butter ina frying pan, and cook sliced onion for 5 to 6 minutes til golden.
• Serve the baked macaroni with the onion slices scattered on the top.

ASPARAGUS AND SWISS MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Move a rack to the middle of the oven. Coat a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
• In a large pot set over high heat bring 1 gallon of water with 2 tablespoons kosher salt to a boil. Add the penne and cook 2 minutes less than the package directions, stirring occasionally. The pasta will be slightly underdone. Use a measuring cup or ladle to remove 1/3 cup pasta water and set aside. Drain the pasta into a colander. Return the pasta to the pot and set aside.
• Melt 4 tablespoons of the butter in a large skillet set over medium heat. Add the flour and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, whisking constantly. Pour in the milk, whisking constantly until the mixture starts to thicken like heavy cream and then becomes almost pudding-like, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the shredded cheese and whisk until smooth, the sauce will be very thick. Add the nutmeg and season with some salt and pepper.
• Combine the asparagus, pasta, reserved 1/3 cup pasta water and cheese sauce and toss well. Season with salt and pepper, then transfer to the prepared baking dish and top with a layer of the cheese slices. Cut the remaining 2 tablespoons butter into 1-inch cubes. Sprinkle the panko over the cheese slices, and top with the butter cubes. Bake until the top is golden brown and crisp, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool for 10 minutes before serving.

SHANNON'S SMOKY MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Fill a pot with lightly-salted water and bring to a boil. Stir the macaroni into the water and return to a boil. Cook and occasionally stir until the pasta has cooked through, but is still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes; drain.
• Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the flour to the melted butter and whisk continually for 1 to 2 minutes to make a roux. Whisk 2 cups of the milk into the roux until smooth and then add the remaining milk. Raise the heat to medium-high and continue cooking and stirring until thickened, but not boiling. Stir the Gouda, Cheddar, Swiss, and 1 cup Parmesan cheese into the mixture; once the cheeses have melted completely, fold the drained macaroni into the mixture to coat. Pour the macaroni mixture into a 9x13-inch baking dish.
• Stir 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, bread crumbs, and cayenne pepper together in a small bowl; sprinkle over the macaroni. Drizzle the olive oil over the bread crumbs.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden and bubbly, about 30 minutes. Allow to rest 10 minutes before cutting.

OLD FASHIONED MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Prepare the elbow macaroni according to package directions.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium high heat. Stir in the flour until a cream colored paste forms. Then pour in the milk and stir constantly until this comes to a hard boil, then stir for 1 more minute. Remove from heat and set aside.
• When the macaroni is cooked, spread 1/2 of it into the bottom of a lightly greased 9x13-inch baking dish. Then layer 1/2 of the grated onion, 1/2 of the salt and pepper and 1/2 of each of the cheeses. Repeat this one more time: macaroni, onion, salt and pepper and cheeses, and then pour the reserved white sauce over all. Top off with small pats of butter to taste.
• Cover and bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 45 minutes.