Cheesy Mac and Cheese

 

Ooey-Gooey Macaroni and Cheese

BY  Chris Scott

Published in Epicurious

October 29, 2022

Note from Cook - This Macaroni and cheese won TIME OUT New York magazine's "Best Mac and Cheese" contest back in 2017. It has an awesome, crusty, golden-brown top and the ooey-gooiest center known to humankind. I like using medium pasta shells, which allow the cheese and bechamel to thoroughly coat the outsides as well as really work their way into the nooks and crannies.

Recipe was excerpted from 'Homage' by Chris Scott

Note from Melissa - I thought it might be too cheesy but it was perfect.  I cooked it in a 10x15 because that gives me lots of golden, chewy crust.

 

Ingredients

Serves 8

½ cup (113 g) butter

½ cup (70 g) all-purpose flour

5 cups (1.2 L) milk

3 Tbsp. garlic powder

4 cups (120 g) coarsely grated Parmesan cheese

1 lb (455 g) macaroni shells, cooked according to package directions

3 cups (240 g) shredded Monterey Jack cheese

3 cups (240 g) shredded Cheddar cheese

Step 1  Preheat the oven to 350°F.

 

Step 2  In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the flour, whisking constantly, until thoroughly combined and lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add the milk and garlic powder, bring to a boil, and lower to a simmer. Cook until a creamy béchamel forms, 6 to 8 minutes. Turn off the heat and whisk in the Parmesan cheese, stirring until thoroughly combined.

 

Step 3 Fold the cooked macaroni shells into the béchamel, then pour into an ungreased baking dish.

 

Step 4 In a bowl, combine the Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheese. Sprinkle evenly over the casserole. Bake for 40 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the top is golden brown.

 

Cook's note: Pouring oil into pasta cooking water is a pet peeve of mine, because nothing will stick to oily pasta, especially not a gooey, slithery cheese sauce. Don't do it here. (Apply oil to other pastas after cooking only, as in the dressing for a cold pasta salad.)

Ann's Banana Cream Pie

This pie has a custard base that makes it extra good-no comparison to the jello pudding variety. Ann says to make sure you give it several hours to chill and set. Thanks for sharing.

Ingredients 

Baked Pie Shell
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp sugar
3 cups whole milk
5 large egg yolks
2 Tbsp butter - cut up
2 tsp vanilla
4 ripe medium bananas
3/4 cup whipping cream

     In 3-quart saucepan, stir cornstarch, salt, and 1/2 cup sugar.  With wire whisk, beat in milk.  Cook over medium heat until mixture thickens and boils - stirring constantly.  Boil 1 minute. Remove saucepan from heat.
     In small bowl, with wire whisk, lightly beat eff yolks. In thin steady stream, whisk about 1/2 cup hot milk mixture into yolks.  Gradually whisk yolk mixture back into milk mixture - stirring rapidly to prevent curdling.  Cook over low heat until mixture is very thick and coats the back of a spoon well or temperature reaches 160*, stirring constantly. Remove saucepan from heat.
     Stir in butter and vanilla until butter melts. Transfer custard to medium bowl. Press plastic wrap onto surface. Refrigerate until cool - about 30 minutes.
     Slice 3 bananas and arrange half of bananas in bottom of baked crust. Spread with half of custard. Repeat with remaining bananas and custard.  Press plastic wrap onto surface; refrigerate until filling is set - at least 4 hours or overnight.
 
     To serve - in a small bowl with mixer at medium speed, beat whipping cream with remaining 2 Tbsp of sugar until stiff peaks form. Spread over filling. Slice remaining banana and arrange on top of pie. 

Broccoli-Cheese Soup

Broccoli-Cheese Soup

3 C chopped broccoli
2 C chopped celery

Simmer in water until tender and drain

1 1/2 C chopped onion
1/2 C butter

Cook until onion is tender

Into onions , stir in until smooth:

1/2 C flour

Add and cook until thickened:

4 C milk
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
drained vegetables

Stir in until melted:

2 C grated Swiss cheese