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Everyone knows the famous macaroni and cheese boxes, the ones with the powder cheese sauce mix. It has become a comforting staple in the households of many families with children, including my own. This pasta, with the dull powdery sauce, is now extremely normalized all over the country, its convenience allowing it to be a famous dish. Unlike those boxes we all know too well, I distinctly remember the moment when I first had fresh, baked mac 'n cheese. As a professional picky eater years ago, this dish passed the test. It was an elevated mac n' cheese, different from anything I had ever had before. The first time I tasted the perfectly toasted bread crumbs on top, with the creamy cheese cause coating the pasta underneath, I knew this dish could not be replaced. Considering this is a dish so memorable to me, I knew I had to make it myself.
Boiling the water for the macaroni and cheese.
Stirring the cheese sauce mix.
Since I had never cooked in this kitchen before, I felt initially lost in there. I always had to stop and ask where things were, or what I should use to cook it with. Having my only previous cooking experience being in the comfort of my own home, this experience was stressful at first. During the first day of cooking, I had just then found out what the walk-in fridge or dry storage looked like. Navigating through the kitchen, I felt like I had to be quick, managing several things at once. Having now done so, I feel like next time will feel much smoother. Since my recipe was pretty simple and familiar, I would say that it made the experience smoother than it would have been with something unfamiliar.
In the end, I was very pleased with the end product. Right from the first bite, it filled me with warmth, and transported me back to my childhood. Not only did I think it tasted good, but a lot of my friends thought so as well. The most repeated comment I got about this dish was that a lot of people liked the seasoning (coming from the bread crumbs sprinkled on top). Overall, I think that this dish met my expectations, and tasted like an elevated comfort food.
Mixing seasoning with the bread crumbs.
The finished product!
After tasting this dish, I will never think about box mac n' cheese the same. Nothing compares to the flavors and texture of this unique mac n' cheese, not to mention that there's endless possibilities of things you could add in to elevate it further. The next time you're craving mac n' cheese, or even a look back into your own childhood, you need to try this dish.
You can find the recipe below and on Tasty's website.
Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Ingredients:
Unsalted butter…..⅛ stick
All purpose flour…..½ tablespoon
Kosher salt…..⅛ teaspoon
Freshly ground black pepper…..⅛ teaspoon
Whole milk…..⅛ cup
Heavy cream…..⅛ cup
Shredded sharp cheddar cheese…..⅓ cup
Elbow macaroni, cooked according to package instructions until al dente and drained, not cooled……1/8 pound
Seasoned Bread Crumbs:
Unsalted butter, melted…..⅓ tablespoon
Kosher salt……a pinch
Garlic powder…..a pinch
Smoked Paprika…..a pinch
Panko Breadcrumbs…..⅛ cup
The final product!
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit (220 degrees Celsius)
In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the flour, salt, and pepper, and whisk until smooth and bubbling, about 1-2 minutes.
Slowly pour in the milk and heavy cream, whisking constantly, until smooth. Continue whisking until the sauce thickens enough to coat the back of the spoon, 4-5 minutes. Add the cheddar cheese and stir until melted and the sauce is creamy.
Fold in the cooked pasta until evenly coated.
Pour the mac n cheese into a 9-inch square pan.
Make the bread crumb topping: In a small bowl, stir together the melted butter, salt, garlic powder, and paprika with a fork until combined. Add the panko bread crumbs and stir until evenly coated in the butter mixture.
Sprinkle the bread crumb topping evenly over the mac and cheese.
Bake the mac and cheese for 10-15 minutes, or until the topping is browned (if the top isn’t browning, broil on high for 2-3 minutes).
Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Enjoy!
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