This is a simple yet gourmet macaroni and cheese that's both a fancy entree and a delicious comfort food. The addition of Old Bay, mustard, and cayenne pepper gives this dish a grown-up kick that some kids may not like. Omit it for younger audiences - or simply make them a box of the 'blue stuff' so that there's more for the adults.
Pulse bread and butter in food processor until bread is broken down into fine crumbs, about 30 seconds. Set aside.
Pasta
Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat broiler.
4 quarts water
Bring water to boil in a large stock pot over high heat.
1 tablespoon salt
Add salt to water.
464g / 1 pound macaroni or pipe rigate pasta
Add pasta to water and stir well. Cook until pasta is just al dente, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain pasta and set aside in colander.
Cheese Sauce
Note: You can make the sauce in a separate saucepan or you can wait until pasta is done cooking and reuse the empty stockpot to make the sauce and save yourself an extra dish to cleanup.
5 tablespoons butter
In a large saucepan or in the empty stock pot used to cook the pasta, heat butter over medium-high heat until foaming.
47g / 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 teaspoons Old Bay seasoning
1 teaspoon powdered mustard
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Add flour and spices to pot and whisk well to combine. Continue whisking until butter becomes fragrant and deepens in color, about 1 minute.
5 cups whole or 2% milk
While whisking frequently, slowly pour in milk. Stop after each full cup of milk has been added and whisk until full incorporated.
Bring milk mixture to a boil while whisking frequently. Reduce heat to medium and simmer, whisking occasionally, until thickened to a creamy consistency, about 5 to 10 minutes.
8 ounces Monterey Jack cheese, shredded (2 cups)
8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (2 cups)
Once thickened, remove from heat and stir in cheeses until fully melted.
reserved pasta
Add reserved pasta.
Return pot to stove and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is heated through, about 2 to 4 minutes.
Transfer contents to an oven safe 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
reserved bread crumbs
Sprinkle top evenly with bread crumbs.
Broil until bread crumbs are deep golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Note: Keep a very close eye on it as it will quickly go from golden brown to burned!
Cool about 5 minutes and serve.
From MakeBetterFood.com. . (makebetterfood.com/recipes/macaroni-and-cheese/). Adapted from Cook's Illustrated. May 2004.
Pulse bread and butter in food processor until bread is broken down into fine crumbs, about 30 seconds. Set aside.
Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat broiler.
Bring water to boil in a large stock pot over high heat.
Add salt to water.
Add pasta to water and stir well. Cook until pasta is just al dente, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain pasta and set aside in colander.
Note: You can make the sauce in a separate saucepan or you can wait until pasta is done cooking and reuse the empty stockpot to make the sauce and save yourself an extra dish to cleanup.
In a large saucepan or in the empty stock pot used to cook the pasta, heat butter over medium-high heat until foaming.
Add flour and spices to pot and whisk well to combine. Continue whisking until butter becomes fragrant and deepens in color, about 1 minute.
While whisking frequently, slowly pour in milk. Stop after each full cup of milk has been added and whisk until full incorporated.
Bring milk mixture to a boil while whisking frequently. Reduce heat to medium and simmer, whisking occasionally, until thickened to a creamy consistency, about 5 to 10 minutes.
Once thickened, remove from heat and stir in cheeses until fully melted.
Add reserved pasta.
Return pot to stove and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is heated through, about 2 to 4 minutes.
Transfer contents to an oven safe 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
Sprinkle top evenly with bread crumbs.
Broil until bread crumbs are deep golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Note: Keep a very close eye on it as it will quickly go from golden brown to burned!
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