Community Pick
Macaroni and Cheese

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Mac and cheese done Martha Stewart's way. :)
- Serves:
- Units:
19
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ingredients
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for dish (1 stick)
- 6 slices white bread, crusts removed, torn into 1/4 to 1/2 inch pieces ((good quality))
- 5 1⁄2 cups milk
- 1⁄2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1⁄4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1⁄4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1⁄4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, to taste
- 4 1⁄2 cups grated sharp white cheddar cheese (about 18 oz.)
- 2 cups grated gruyere (about 8 oz.)
- to taste grated pecorino romano cheese (about 5 oz.)
- 1 lb elbow macaroni
directions
- Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Butter a 3-quart casserole dish; set aside. Place the bread in a medium bowl.
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt 2 Tbsp butter.
- Pour butter into bowl with bread, and toss; set the bread crumbs aside.
- In a medium saucepan set over medium heat, heat the milk.
- Melt remaining 6 Tbsp. butter in a high-sided skillet over medium heat. When butter bubbles, add flour.
- Cook, stirring, 1 minute. While whisking, slowly our in hot milk.
- Continue cooking, whisking constantly, until the mixture bubbles and becomes thick.
- Remove pan from heat. Stir in salt, nutmeg, black pepper, cayenne pepper, 3 cup cheddar cheese, and 1 1/2 cup Gruyere or 1 cup Pecorino Romano; set cheese sauce aside. Fill a large saucepan with water; bring to a boil.
- Add macaroni; cook 2 to 3 min. less than manufacturer's directions, until the outside of the pasta is cooked and the inside is underdone. (Different brands of macaroni cook at different rates; be sure to read the instructions.) Transfer the macaroni to a colander, rinse under cold running water, and drain well.
- Stir macaroni into the reserved cheese sauce. Pour mixture into prepared dish.
- Sprinkle remaining 1 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, 1/2 cup Gruyere or 1/4 cup Pecorino Romano, and bread crumbs over top.Bake until browned on top, 30-60 minutes.
- Transfer dish to a wire rack to cool 5 min.; serve.
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You have NO idea how long I have been looking for the PERFECT most delicious Mac and Cheese... and Eureka! There is no WAY others can compete with this one! I give you 12 stars :) Haha. We used wheat pasta and wheat bread, and next time I will definitely be using more bread...the bread cubes were, oh my goodness, TO-DIE-FOR!!! Finally, the perfect mac and cheese recipe. Thanks SOOOO much, Bay Laurel, for posting! Made for PAC Spring 2009!Reply
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