Traditional Southern Macaroni And Cheese Food

AUTHENTIC SOUTHERN BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Butter an 8 by 11 or 9 by 13-inch baking dish and set aside.
• Fill a large stockpot or dutch oven halfway with chicken broth (or water if you don't have broth), and bring to a boil. Add in elbow macaroni and cook until just under al dente, according to package directions. Do not fully cook or overcook the macaroni pasta, it'll finish cooking through completely in the oven. Once just under al dente, drain the pasta.
• While the pasta boils, use a wooden spoon to mix the half and half, heavy cream, half of the cheddar cheese, half of the Colby jack cheese, all of the mozzarella cheese, all of the American cheese, and all of the cream cheese in a large mixing bowl.
• Add smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, mustard powder, and some kosher salt and pepper, stirring well and tasting the mixture to ensure there is a good flavor. Do not add too much salt, since cheese is pretty salty and will add its saltiness as it bakes. Once satisfied with the seasoning, stir in the cooked macaroni and eggs until well incorporated with the cheese.
• Pour the macaroni mixture into the baking dish and spread evenly.
• Top the macaroni and cheese generously with the rest of the cheddar cheese and colby jack cheese. Sprinkle the top with a little more smoked paprika, if desired.
• Bake the mac and cheese for 35 minutes or until the cheese crust is bubbly and nicely browned. Do not over-bake or the macaroni pasta will become mushy and the cheese mixture will become dry.
• Let the baked macaroni and cheese cool for about 10 minutes or until just cool enough to serve. Serve hot so the cheese is nice and creamy.
• Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

SOUTHERN MACARONI & CRISPY CHEESE

Steps:

• Boil the macaroni in a large pot with the olive oil until tender.
• While the macaroni is boiling, shred the cheddar cheese and the Monterey Jack cheese onto separate plates.
• Pour milk into a mixing bowl. Add the eggs, salt, pepper, and flour. Add melted butter. Mix until ingredients are well blended.
• When macaroni is finished cooking, remove from pot and rinse well with cold water.
• Pour the macaroni into a large oven safe dish (I prefer an aluminum pan for easy clean up.
• Mix about half of the cheddar cheese into the macaroni. Mix in all of the Monterey Jack cheese. Cut the Velveeta cheese into chunks and mix into macaroni. Pour the milk and egg mixture over the macaroni and mix well. Spread the remaining cheddar cheese over the top of the macaroni.
• Bake uncovered at 350°F for 30 minutes.

SOUTHERN MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Butter a 9-by-13-inch or other 3-quart baking dish.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, about 7 minutes. Drain, then rinse with cold water.
• Using the same pot the macaroni was cooked in, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk until smooth. While whisking constantly, slowly add the milk and then the heavy cream. Bring to a simmer, then add the cream cheese and all but 1/2 cup shredded cheddar and stir until melted. Stir in the granulated garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Remove the cheese sauce from the heat and stir in the macaroni. Season with salt and pepper.
• Whisk together the eggs and sour cream in a small bowl and then fold into the mac and cheese. Spread in the baking dish, then fold in the cubed cheddar and top with the remaining 1/2 cup shredded cheddar. Bake until the mac and cheese just begins to brown on top, 20 to 30 minutes. Loosely cover with foil and bake 10 to 15 more minutes.

TRADITIONAL MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees
• Grease a 2 qt casserole dish.
• Combine constarch, salt, mustard and pepper in medium sauce pan.
• Stir in evaporated milk, water and butter.
• Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil.
• Boil for 1 minute.
• Remove from heat.
• Stir in 1 1/2 cups cheese until melted.
• Add macaroni and mix well.
• Pour into prepared casserole dish.
• Top with remaining cheese.
• Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until cheese is melted and light brown.

SOUTHERN MACARONI PIE

Steps:

• Cook macaroni in salted water until almost done.
• Beat egg and flour with fork until there are no lumps.
• Beat in milk and salt.
• In a greased 2 quart shallow casserole dish, layer the macaroni, cheese, another layer of macaroni, and a final layer of cheese.
• Pour the milk mixture over the top of layered ingredients.
• Bake uncovered 45 to 55 minutes in a 350 degree Fahrenheit preheated oven.
• Remove from oven and let sit for 15 minutes before serving.
• This last step is important to let the pie set-up.

SOUTHERN LIVING'S CLASSIC BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Prepare pasta according to package directions. Keep warm.
• Melt butter in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium-low heat; whisk in flour until smooth. Cook, whisking constantly, 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in milk, and cook, whisking constantly, 5 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat. Stir in salt, peppers, 1 cup shredded cheese and cooked pasta.
• Spoon pasta mixture into 4 lightly greased (8-ounce) ramekins; top with remaining 1 cup cheese.
• Bake for 15 minutes or until bubbly. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

SOUTHERN MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Spray a flat bottomed casserole dish with vegetable spray.
• Put half of the macaroni in the dish, top with half of the shredded cheese.
• Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Repeat.
• Mix the melted butter and enough crushed saltines to absorb the butter, together.
• Spread on top of cheese layer.
• Pour milk slowly over all.
• Bake at 350°F for 35-45 minutes or until milk is no longer liquid.
• Let set for at least 10 minutes before serving.