Upscale Macaroni And Cheese Food

GROWN UP MAC AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Place a baking rack on a sheet pan and arrange the bacon in 1 layer on the baking rack. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the bacon is crisp. Remove the pan carefully from the oven - there will be hot grease in the pan! Transfer the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels and crumble when it is cool enough to handle.
• Drizzle oil into a large pot of boiling salted water. Add the macaroni and cook according to the directions on the package, 6 to 8 minutes. Drain well.
• Meanwhile, heat the milk in a small saucepan, but don't boil it. Melt the butter in a medium pot and add the flour. Cook over low heat for 2 minutes, stirring with a whisk. While whisking, add the hot milk and cook for a minute or 2 more, until thickened and smooth. Off the heat, add the Gruyere, Cheddar, blue cheese, 1 teaspoon salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Add the cooked macaroni and crumbled bacon and stir well. Pour into 2 individual size gratin dishes.
• Place the bread slices in a food processor fitted with a steel blade and pulse until you have coarse crumbs. Add the basil and pulse to combine. Sprinkle the bread crumb mixture over the top of the pasta. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the macaroni is browned on the top.

UPSCALE MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add bell peppers and celery and saute until just beginning to soften, about 7 minutes.
• Remove from heat; dseason with salt and pepper.
• Combine cream, half and half, and blue cheese in heavy medium saucepan. Stir over low heat until cheese melts. Remove from heat.
• Add celery seeds.
• Season sauce with cayenne, salt and pepper.
• Beat yolks in medium bowl to blend.
• Gradually whisk in half of cheese sauce.
• Return mixture to saucepan and whisk to blend.
• Add celery leaves.
• Butter 13x9" baking dish.
• Cook pasta in pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain. Return to same pot.
• Add sauce and vegetables; stir to blend.
• Transfer to baking dish.
• Can be made one day ahead, cover and chill. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour before continuing.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Sprinkle Parmesan over surface of pasta.
• Bake until pasta is heated through, sauce is bubbling, and top is beginning to brown, about 25 minutes.

UPSCALE MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add bell peppers and celery and sauté until just beginning to soften, about 7 minutes. Remove from heat. Season with salt and pepper.
• Combine cream, half and half and blue cheese in heavy medium saucepan. Stir over low heat until cheese melts. Remove from heat. Add celery seeds. Season sauce with cayenne, salt and pepper. Beat yolks in medium bowl to blend. Gradually whisk in half of cheese sauce. Return mixture to saucepan and whisk to blend. Add celery leaves.
• Butter 13 3/4x10 1/2x2 3/4-inch (4-quart capacity) oval baking dish. Cook pasta in pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain. Return to same pot. Add sauce and vegetables; stir to blend. Transfer to baking dish. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour before continuing.)
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Sprinkle Parmesan over surface of pasta. Bake until pasta is heated through, sauce is bubbling and top is beginning to brown, about 25 minutes.