even better best-ever macaroni & cheese
Main Dish, Pasta, Side Dish, Vegetarian January 25th, 2010
I’ve been making the same mac & cheese recipe for about seven years now. I originally found it in an issue of Everyday Food magazine, but over the years I’ve tweaked it just a bit to stretch it further and make it just a tad healthier (though admittedly, not much). My seven-year old had four helpings of this the other night. Four. My four-year-old had to be coerced even though it contains everything he likes: pasta, cream cheese, and cheddar. For this recipe I prefer to use small shells instead of elbow macaroni. I like the way the sauce gets into the opening of the shell pasta.
Gather your ingredients:
1 Tbsp. melted butter
1/4 C. breadcrumbs
1 1/4 C. low-fat milk (I use 1%; I have not tested this with skim)
8 oz. (one package) neufchâtel cheese
2 cups grated white cheddar
8 oz. uncooked shell pasta (about half a box)
1/4 tsp. salt and 1/8 tsp. pepper
Preheat oven to 400. Butter a 13 x 9 dish. In a small bowl, toss the melted butter with breadcrumbs. Set aside. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta according to package directions; drain.
In a large non-stick stock pot, bring milk to a boil over medium heat. (Keep your eye on it, or it will bubble over and make a big mess; trust me.) Reduce heat to med-low; add neufchatel cheese, cut into cubes. Stir until melted. Gradually add cheddar and stir slowly until it has melted
Add cooked pasta to the melted cheese.
Add salt and pepper and stir it all together. The mac & cheese is delicious like this if you prefer it extra-creamy, but if you want to bake it, pour it into a greased 13 x 9 baking dish. Because of my schedule during the day, I’ll often make it up to this point in the morning, put it in the fridge, then finish it in the oven later (just let it come to room temperature first).
When you’re ready, bake the mac & cheese in a 450 degree oven until it starts to bubble (about 10 minutes). Take it out of the oven and sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture over the top, then bake it for an additional 10 minutes.
Typically I serve this as a main dish along with a salad that has been dressed with a vinaigrette, but naturally it makes a great side dish, too.
Best-Ever Baked Macaroni & Cheese
Main Dish, Pasta, Vegetarian February 7th, 2009
1 Tbsp. melted butter
1/4 C. breadcrumbs
1 1/4 C. whole milk
8 oz. cream cheese
1 lb. (4 C.) grated white cheddar
8 oz. elbow macaroni
1/4 tsp. salt and 1/8 tsp. pepper
1) Preheat oven to 400. Butter a 13 x 9 dish. In a small bowl, toss melted butter with breadcrumbs and 1/4 c. cheddar.
2) In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook macaroni according to package; drain.
3) In a large saucepan over medium heat, bring milk to a boil. Reduce heat to med-low; add cream cheese, cut into cubes, stir until melted (abt. 2 min). Gradually stir in remaining cheddar until melted (abt. 5 min.) Add cooked pasta, salt and pepper; toss to combine.
4) Pour mixture into baking dish. Bake until bubbling, 10 min. Remove from oven; sprinkle with breadcrumb mixture. Bake until golden, 10 min. more.
From Everyday Food, May/June 2003
Bow Ties with Sausage and Broccoli Rabe
Main Dish, Pasta, Pork February 7th, 2009
1 lb bow tie pasta
1 (1-lb) bunch broccoli rabe, tough ends trimmed, cut into 2-inch pieces
3/4 – 1 lb. mixed hot and sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
2 cloves minced garlic
1 tbps crushed red pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp each salt and black pepper
Grated parmasan or romano cheese for garnish
1. In large pot of boiling, salted water, cook pasta according to pkg directions, adding broccoli rabe 3 min. before pasta is finished cooking. When pasta is firm but tender and broccoli rabe is tender, reserve 1/2 cup cooking water. Drain pasta and rabe in colander, shaking to remove excess water; return to pot.
2. While pasta and broccoli rabe are cooking, in large skillet over med-high heat, cook sausage, breaking up clumps with wooden spoon, until sausage is browned (about 5 min.). Add garlic and crushed red pepper; saute for 1 more min. or until fragrant.
3. Add sausage, reserved 1/2 cup cooking water, the olive oil, salt and pepper to pasta mixture in pot. Toss to coat pasta evenly. Serve with grated cheese on the side.
Spicy Asparagus Pasta
Main Dish, Pasta, Vegetarian February 7th, 2009
5 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp. dried red pepper flakes
2-3 dashes Tabasco
1/4 c olive oil
1 Tbs. butter or margarine
1 lb fresh asparagus, cut into 1-inch pieces
Salt to taste
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 cup shredded Parmasan (I prefer Romano) cheese
1/2 lb penne, cooked and drained
In a skillet, cook garlic, red pepper flakes, and hot pepper sauce in oil
and butter for 2-3 min. Add asparagus, salt and pepper; saute until
asparacus is crisp-tender, abt. 8-10 min. Add Parmesan cheese; mix well.
Pour over hot pasta and toss to coat. Serve immediately.
Penne a la Vodka
Pasta, Vegetarian February 7th, 2009
Rachael Ray’s recipe
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, once around the pan in a slow stream
1 tablespoon butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 shallots, minced
1 cup vodka
1 cup chicken stock
1 can crushed tomatoes (32 ounces)
Coarse salt and pepper
16 ounces penne rigate
1/2 cup heavy cream
fresh basil, shredded or torn
Heat a large skillet over moderate heat. Add oil, butter, garlic, and shallots. Gently saute shallots for 3 to 5 minutes to develop their sweetness. Add vodka to the pan, 3 turns around the pan in a steady stream will equal about 1 cup. Reduce vodka by half, this will take 2 or 3 minutes. Add chicken stock, tomatoes. Bring sauce to a bubble and reduce heat to simmer. Season with salt and pepper.
While sauce simmers, cook pasta in salted boiling water until cooked to al dente (with a bite to it). While pasta cooks, prepare your salad or other side dishes.
Stir cream into sauce. When sauce returns to a bubble, remove it from heat. Drain pasta. Toss hot pasta with sauce and basil leaves.
Little Thimbles Schiue Schiue
Main Dish, Pasta, Vegetarian February 7th, 2009
1 1/2 cups (about 6 ounces) ditalini pasta (thimble-shaped pasta) or other small tube-shaped pastas such as elbow macaroni or pennette
1/4 cup olive oil
2 teaspoons minced garlic
5 plum tomatoes (about 1 pound), chopped
8 ounces cold fresh mozzarella, drained, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
8 large fresh basil leaves, coarsely chopped
Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring often to prevent the pasta from sticking together, about 8 minutes. Drain.
Meanwhile, in a heavy large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and saute just until heated through, about 2 minutes. Add the cooked pasta. Remove the skillet from the heat. Add the cheese and basil, and toss to coat. Season the pasta, to taste, with salt. Spoon the pasta into small serving bowls and serve immediately.
Black Bean & Orzo Salad
Pasta, Salads, Side Dish, Vegetarian February 7th, 2009
• 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained or 2 cups cooked black beans (tender)
• 1/4 cup ripe olives, sliced, drained
• 1 medium tomatoes, seeded & chopped
• 1/2 red pepper, chopped
• 1 cup canned or frozen corn
• 1/4 cup green onions, chopped
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• 2 tablespoons olive oil, or vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
• 1-2 cloves minced garlic
• 1 teaspoon cumin, ground
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1cup cooked orzo
• Optional: avacado, shredded cheddar cheese
Mix beans, olives, tomatoes, onions, corn, peppers and cilantro in large bowl. Mix oil, lime juice, vinegar, cumin, garlic, pepper and salt; toss with bean mixture. Stir in pasta. Let stand for 1 hour to blend flavors. If desired, top with shredded cheese and cubed avacado before serving
Penne a la Vodka
Main Dish, Pasta March 8th, 2008
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, once around the pan in a slow stream
1 tablespoon butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 shallots, minced
1 cup vodka
1 cup chicken stock
1 can crushed tomatoes (32 ounces)
Coarse salt and pepper
16 ounces pasta, such as penne rigate
1/2 cup heavy cream
20 leaves fresh basil, shredded or torn
Crusty bread, for passing
Heat a large skillet over moderate heat. Add oil, butter, garlic, and shallots. Gently saute shallots for 3 to 5 minutes to develop their sweetness. Add vodka to the pan, 3 turns around the pan in a steady stream will equal about 1 cup. Reduce vodka by half, this will take 2 or 3 minutes. Add chicken stock, tomatoes. Bring sauce to a bubble and reduce heat to simmer. Season with salt and pepper.
While sauce simmers, cook pasta in salted boiling water until cooked to al dente (with a bite to it). While pasta cooks, prepare your salad or other side dishes.
Stir cream into sauce. When sauce returns to a bubble, remove it from heat. Drain pasta. Toss hot pasta with sauce and basil leaves. Pass pasta with crusty bread.
Yield: 4 servings Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 20 minutes Difficulty: Easy
Recipe courtesy Rachael Ray.
Best-Ever Macaroni & Cheese
Main Dish, Pasta, Vegetarian March 8th, 2008
1 Tbsp. melted butter
1/4 C. breadcrumbs
1 1/4 C. whole milk
8 oz. cream cheese
1 lb. (4 C.) grated white cheddar
8 oz. elbow macaroni
1/4 tsp. salt and 1/8 tsp. pepper
1) Preheat oven to 400. Butter a 13 x 9 dish. In a small bowl, toss melted butter with breadcrumbs and 1/4 c. cheddar.
2) In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook macaroni according to package; drain.
3) In a large saucepan over medium heat, bring milk to a boil. Reduce heat to med-low; add cream cheese, cut into cubes, stir until melted (abt. 2 min). Gradually stir in remaining cheddar until melted (abt. 5 min.) Add cooked pasta, salt and pepper; toss to combine.
4) Pour mixture into baking dish. Bake until bubbling, 10 min. Remove from oven; sprinkle with breadcrumb mixture. Bake until golden, 10 min. more.
From Everyday Food, May/June 2003