Super Bowl Mac and Cheese

Super Bowl Sunday will be here in a few days. Hello, it's time to get the menu planned . . .! What was I thinking.

I'm not much of a football fan so I don't give this too much thought but we still have to eat so I'm a cooking fool.

I like to make comfort food on days like this. It's our chance to splurge on the foods we love since we don't have them very often. Macaroni and cheese is always a favorite.

Here's a TIP for this week -- make the macaroni and cheese in advance and use a muffin pan to make individual servings. Perfect if you are setting up a buffet table.

Last year I shared a lower fat and cholesterol version recipe that my sister 'the cook' gave me that I tried and liked so I used the same recipe which you can find here.

If you want to go all out and make the rich and creamy version that we all love by all means this is the main event, so here it is.

Basic Macaroni & Cheese
(yields approx. 12 individual servings)
Ingredients

• 8 oz. elbow macaroni, cooked (that's about 1/2 box)
• 2 cups low fat milk
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• salt & pepper to taste
• 1/4 tsp. spicy mustard (optional)
• 1/8 tsp. nutmeg
• 10 oz. pkg. extra sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1/4 cup panko bread crumbs (or regular bread crumbs if you don't have panko)
• 1 TBLS. butter to crumble on top of bread crumbs

Directions:

1. Preheat oven 350 degrees. 
2. Cook the elbow macaroni as directed on the package, less one minute so that it's al dente. The macaroni will continue to cook while baking.
3. In medium size saucepan add the butter to the pan and then whisk in the flour until smooth for about 1 minute to cook the flour a little. Next gradually add the milk while stirring constantly until the milk and flour are well blended. Add in the mustard, nutmeg and salt and pepper and continue cooking for about 5-10 minutes on very low heat until thickened, stirring occasionally.
4. When the milk has thickened whisk in 1/2 of the shredded cheese and stir well.
5. Scoop up the mac and cheese with an ice cream scoop adding to paper muffin cups and place in a regular size muffin pan. 
6. Top the pasta with the remainder of the shredded cheese, sprinkle with bread crumbs, and add the butter across the top.
7. Bake for approximately 20-25 minutes or until the cheese is bubbling and the top is lightly browned.

The prep time for this recipe is about 20 minutes. Shred the cheese while the macaroni is cooking, then use the same pot to prepare the milk and cheese (less pans to wash).

You can make this recipe up to one day in advance and just place the mac muffins in a pre-heated oven just before you are ready to serve.   That gives you time to relax and enjoy the the festivities.


I've shared this recipe with:





Mangia!
Winelady Cooks