Tuesday, June 16, 2009

A new mac and cheese variation for us



So its been a very long time since we posted, and frankly I don't know if anyone is following this at all but I thought it was time to add a new recipe. It's true that we have posted mac and cheese recipes before, but for what some might consider a simple food, to us it is most certainly not. This recipe is something of a ode to sandra lee's semi-homemade, someone who I am really not a fan of, but its her concept so credit where credit is due. This dish plays on some of our earlier mac and cheese variations, using greens to create a more complex flavor while still maintaining its classic down home soul food roots.

Semi-homemade baked mac and cheese

1 package of elbow macaroni
3 - 4 cloves of fresh garlic
1/2 cup of fresh spinach
1 can of broccoli and cheese soup
1/2 cup of shredded Wisconsin cheddar cheese
1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese
2 TBS of butter
1/4 cup of corn meal
1/2 cup of milk or condensed milk
Fresh ground black pepper to taste
1-2 TBS of capers

Bring water to a boil for the pasta. Add pasta, stir, and when reached the desired texture drain. Its best to leave it a little chewy because its going to continue cooking in the oven. Chop the spinach and the garlic. Bring a med. sauce pan to a med heat, allowing the butter to brown slightly. Add the spinach and garlic, and lower to temperature so the garlic does not burn. When the spinach has cooked down, add the can of soup. Continue to stir the mixture as you add the milk, letting the ingredients blend. Add fresh ground black pepper to taste. When the liquids have reached a simmer, turn off the heat, and then add the cheeses, keeping a small amount of the parm aside to put on top. When the cheese has melted, add it to the pasta. Let that set for a minute or two, while you butter the sides of the container you are using to bake it in. I suggest glassware, as it conductes heat well and is easy to clean. Once the sides are coated in the butter, add half of the cornmeal tossing it around to coat the butter. This will create a great crust for the mac and cheese. Add the mac and cheese mixture into the dish, and toss the rest of the cornmeal and parm on top.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, and allow the dish to cook for 20-25 minutes or untill golden brown.

This is one great dish, and the leftovers just get better.

eat and enjoy!

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