My Dads Macaroni Cheese Recipes

MY DAD'S MACARONI & CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°.
• Butter a round casserole dish (I use a 6-inch deep x 8-inch straight sided covered casserole dish).
• Cook the macaroni according to package directions; drain and rinse with cold water.
• Grate the cheese and KEEP in separate piles.
• Place a cup of the cooked macaroni on bottom of greased casserole dish, salt and pepper *lightly* - (*you will be doing this each layer so careful with the salt*); top with a handful of cheese (it doesn't matter which one you start with -- you will be alternating the cheeses); dot the cheese with a little bit of butter -- repeat until all the macaroni is used (finish with cheese!).
• Top the last layer of cheese with a bit more butter.
• Mix together the egg and cream (half-n-half), Pour over the casserole. Place the casserole on a cookie sheet (it has a tendency to bubble over). Cover the casserole for the first 30 minutes. After the first 30 minutes, remove the casserole top and bake for another 20-30 minutes until the cheese on top is melted and nice and crusty.

DAD PAGE'S MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook until they are softened, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture turns light brown, about 3 minutes. Gradually whisk in the milk. Add the paprika, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring, until the sauce is thickened, about 5 minutes. Add the cheeses and stir until they are melted. Add the macaroni and stir until the noodles are thoroughly coated. Remove from heat. Butter two 6-inch cast iron skillets or one 12-inch skillet. Transfer the macaroni mixture into the skillets. Top with the sliced tomatoes. Sprinkle the bread crumbs on top. Bake until the cheese is bubbling and golden brown, about 30 minutes. Garnish with chopped herbs.
• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Spread the cubes of bread on a baking sheet and toast them in the oven until golden brown, about 15 minutes.
• Place the butter, garlic, and herbs in a small saucepan and heat over low heat until the butter is melted. Toss the toasted bread with the butter mixture in a large bowl and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Process the bread in 2 batches in a food processor until you have fine crumbs. Sift the crumbs through a mesh strainer and process the larger crumbs again until all are fine. (If you do not have a food processor, crush the bread on the baking sheet with a rolling pin.)

DAD'S MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400*F.
• Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat.
• Add the onion and garlic, and cook until they are softened, about 2 minutes.
• Whisk in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture turns light brown, about 3 minutes.
• Gradually whisk in the milk.
• Add the paprika, nutmeg, salt and pepper.
• Reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring, until the sauce is thickened, about 5 minutes.
• Add the cheeses and stir until they are melted.
• Add the macaroni and stir until the noodles are toroughly coated.
• Remove from the heat.
• Do not allow the macaroni to sit at this stage, as it will dry out.
• Butter one 12 inch skillet.
• Transfer the macaroni mixture to the skillet.
• Top with the sliced tomatoes.
• Sprinkle bread crumbs on top.
• Bake until the cheese is bubbling and golden brown, about 30 minutes.
• Garnish with the chopped herbs.

MAC DADDY MAC N' CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place shallots and garlic in a small aluminum foil pouch and drizzle with olive oil. Roast 20 to 30 minutes or until tender. Remove from foil and chop. In a large saute pan, reheat reserved bacon fat over medium heat. Add roasted shallot and garlic and saute for 1 minute. Add flour and stir for 1 minute. Whisk in heavy cream and thyme. Reduce by a third. Stir in cheeses until melted, creamy and thickened. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove from heat and gently stir in pasta. Place in a 9X13 casserole dish. In a small bowl, mix together diced bacon, bread crumbs, butter and parsley. Top Mac n Cheese with Panko mixture and bake uncovered at same heat until bubbling and lightly browned on top, 20 to 25 minutes.

BAKED MACARONI AND CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Butter four 14-ounce ovenproof dishes. In a small bowl, toss 1 tablespoon melted butter with breadcrumbs and 1/4 cup cheddar.
• In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook macaroni until al dente, according to package instructions; drain.
• In a large saucepan over medium heat, bring milk to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; add cream cheese, cut into cubes, stir until melted, 2 minutes. Gradually stir in remaining cheddar until melted, 5 minutes. Add cooked pasta, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper; toss to combine.
• Divide the mixture among prepared dishes. Bake until bubbling, 10 minutes. Remove from the oven; sprinkle with the breadcrumb mixture. Bake until golden, 10 minutes more.