Bistro Mac Cheese Recipes

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
• Return drained pasta to the pot. Mix in processed cheese, Cheddar cheese, and cream. Stir until cheeses melt. Sprinkle with salt.

Steps:

• Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain. Meanwhile, in a Dutch oven, melt 3 tablespoons butter over low heat. Stir in flour until smooth; gradually whisk in milk and seasonings. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly; cook and stir 2 minutes or until thickened., Reduce heat; stir in cheeses until melted. Stir in sour cream. Add macaroni; toss to coat. In a small skillet, heat remaining butter over medium heat. Add bread crumbs; cook and stir until golden brown. Sprinkle over top.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly butter a 4-quart rectangular baking dish.
• Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook until slightly al dente, about 7 minutes. Drain and set aside to keep warm.
• Whisk the eggs in a large bowl until frothy. Add the butter, Velveeta, and 1 cup of the half-and-half. Add the warm macaroni and toss until the Velveeta has melted and the mixture is smooth. Add the remaining 2 cups half-and-half, 1 1/2 cups of the yellow cheddar, the remaining cheeses, the salt, and the pepper. Toss until completely combined.
• Pour the mixture into the prepared dish, and bake for 30 minutes. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 cup yellow cheddar and bake until golden brown on top, about 30 minutes. Serve hot.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F; butter a 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish.
• Cook the pasta according to package directions until tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally; drain and set aside (about 8 minutes).
• While the pasta is cooking, in a large heavy saucepan over medium low heat, melt the olive oil and butter together; add the flour and, stirring constantly, cook for 1 minute (don't let it brown), then gradually whisk in the milk and cream.
• Simmer mixture until it slightly thickens, whisking occasionally, for 3 minutes.
• Reduce the temperature to low, then gradually stir in the grated cheddar and 1 cup of the blue cheese and cook, stirring, until the cheese melts.
• Season to taste with salt, freshly ground pepper, and cayenne (if using).
• Stir in the cooked pasta, making sure it's well-coated with the sauce.
• Pour mixture into the buttered baking dish, sprinkle with the reserved 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese, and bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes.
• Sprinkle with the minced chives and serve.
• Note: also good with a serving of carmamelized onions and sauteed mushrooms; also, you can use 2% or skim milk instead of whole, but using whole is how they make it at the restaurant.

Steps:

• Begin the cooking process of the macaroni- according to package directions; Add cubed ham (to warm) during the final minute or so of cooking the macaroni; Drain and set aside.
• While water is heating and macaroni is cooking, make your White Sauce: Melt butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat; add Flour and Salt, and cook about 1 minute, stirring constantly with a wire whisk until mixture is smooth and bubbly.
• Stir the Milk into the mixture and bring to a boil.
• Stirring constantly, boil mixture for 1 minute.
• Lower heat and cook until thickened, stirring regularly about 4-6 minutes.
• (Don't forget to add the ham to the macaroni as it is cooking!).
• Remove White Sauce from heat; Add cheese; stir until melted; Pepper to taste.
• Combine cheese sauce with the macaroni and ham in a bowl (or the macaroni pot); stir well.
• Serve with a yummy green vegetable on the side like green beans or asparagus.
• Enjoy!
• CHEF'S NOTES: You may use Medium/Mild Cheddar or maybe even PepperJack with this recipe as well; I would add a little"kick" with the milder cheeses by adding a clove of minced garlic, or by using salami pieces instead of ham- Yum!