I’m convinced, despite the fact that the weatherman says there’s 80 degree weather expected on Sunday, that fall is here to stay. And I’m pretty psyched. I’ve got my big grandpa sweaters out and as much as I love flip-flops (yeah, I’m that kinda girl), my boots are feeling neglected and I’m ready for my cashmere socks. And what is a better fall food than something warm, snuggly and comforting? And whats the ultimate comfort food?
Macaroni and cheese. Now the name may make you think of the decidedly un-gourmet powdered stuff Kraft makes (I stumbled upon this link when looking for the Kraft website- and may I just say: LMFAO), or bad grammar school lunches (my grammar school actually made amazing mac-n-cheese, strangely enough) or even the Velveeta kind (which is actually pretty good, all things considered)… but this is not that. This is a more grown-up version, but not too grown-up. I took a base (Ina Garten’s) recipe and switched things around here and there and made it my own, because I love me some cavatappi, but I do not like Gruyere cheese OR tomatoes in my macaroni and cheese. So sue me.
COMFORTING & CREAMY MACARONI AND CHEESE (MY WAY)
Go to the store and get:
- Kosher salt
- Vegetable oil
- 1 pound cavatappi (I actually used one pound cavatappi and a half pound smaller gourmet cavatappi I had in the house, it added to the texture and it looked pretty cute, haha)
- 1 quart milk
- 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, divided
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 4 cups sharp or extra sharp Cheddar, grated
- 1 ½ cups mild Cheddar, grated (or Asagio, grated)
- ½ cup Mozzarella cheese, grated*
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½-1 cup bread crumbs, depending on how much you like
Then you have to:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Drizzle oil into a large pot of boiling salted water. Add the cavatappi and cook according to the directions on the package, 6 to 8 minutes. Drain well.
- Meanwhile, heat the milk in a small saucepan, but don’t boil it. Melt 6 tablespoons of butter in a large (4-quart) pot and add the flour. Cook over low heat for 2 minutes, stirring with a whisk. While whisking, add the hot milk and cook for a minute or two more, until thickened and smooth.
- Off the heat, add the Cheddar, Asagio, Mozzarella, ½ cup Parmesan, 1 tablespoon salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Add the cooked cavatappi and stir well. Pour into a 3-quart baking dish.
- Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, combine them with the bread crumbs and remainder of the Parmesan, and sprinkle on the top.
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the macaroni is browned on the top.
*Totally optional.
The best macaroni and cheese ever. For serious. And filling? After a half a bowl you can barely move. And this makes a LOT of food, so its great to make and put away for leftovers another night.
I'm Marilla. A 30-something artist, hobby baker, home canning enthusiast, gardener, DIY-er, wife, mommy of a baby boy and dog mom (to another baby boy) from New York. 
Mac n cheese is my absolute fav comfort food. I have my fav recipe, which came from my Gram, but yours sounds and looks amazing. I think I will give it a whirl when it gets a tad cooler.
Its the perfect comfort food. I bet your Gram’s recipe is amazing… but this one is pretty damn good if I do say so myself. 🙂
Looks like what I need today. I am reinventing cupcakes and making them with bread dough. Wish me luck.
OOOH … what kinda bread dough? 🙂 Good luck!
Yoyo sent me over here to try this recipe. Can’t wait to make it!
I hope you like it Michelle. Me & Ina, I mean. 🙂
Hello to every body, it’s my first visit of this web site; this website consists of amazing
and genuinely good information for visitors.
Its such as you learn my thoughts! You appear to know a lot about this, like you wrote the e-book in it or something.
I believe that you can do with some % to pressure the message house a bit,
however instead of that, this is fantastic blog. An excellent read.
I will definitely be back.
I’m extremely inspired together with your writing abilities as neatly as with the
layout for your blog. Is this a paid subject matter or did you customize it yourself?
Either way stay up the excellent quality writing, it
is rare to peer a great blog like this one these days..
Hi there to all, it’s in fact a good for me to
pay a visit this website, it consists of priceless Information.
I have been exploring for a little bit for any high-quality
articles or weblog posts in this sort of house . Exploring in Yahoo I at last stumbled
upon this site. Studying this info So i’m glad to express that I have an incredibly good uncanny feeling I discovered exactly
what I needed. I such a lot without a doubt will make certain to don’t overlook this site and
provides it a glance regularly.
It’s actually a cool and helpful piece of information. I am happy that you shared this helpful info with
us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thanks for
sharing.
I was recommended this web site by my cousin. I’m not sure whether this post is written by him
as no one else know such detailed about my difficulty. You are amazing!
Thanks!
Excellent items from you, man. I’ve bear in mind your stuff prior to and you
are just too magnificent. I actually like what you have received right
here, certainly like what you’re stating and the way during
which you assert it. You are making it enjoyable and you continue
to care for to stay it sensible. I can not wait to read
far more from you. This is really a tremendous website.
You’re so awesome! I do not think I’ve truly read something like that
before. So great to find someone with some original thoughts on this issue.
Seriously.. thank you for starting this up.
This web site is something that’s needed on the internet, someone
with a bit of originality!
Hello, i feel that i noticed you visited my site so i came
to return the favor?.I am trying to in finding issues to
enhance my site!I assume its good enough to make
use of some of your concepts!!
Excellent items from you, man. I’ve consider your stuff previous to
and you are just extremely excellent. I really like what you have received right here, certainly like what you are
saying and the way wherein you are saying it. You’re making it enjoyable and you
still care for to stay it wise. I can’t wait to
learn far more from you. This is really a terrific web site.
I visited several web sites however the audio quality for audio
songs current at this site is in fact marvelous.
Wonderful goods from you, man. I have understand
your stuff previous to and you are just extremely wonderful.
I really like what you’ve acquired here, really like what you’re saying and the way in which you say it.
You make it entertaining and you still care for to keep it sensible.
I can’t wait to read far more from you. This is really a wonderful site.
It’s an awesome post in support of all the online visitors; they will obtain benefit from it I am
sure.
It is not my first time to pay a visit this web page, i am visiting
this website dailly and obtain pleasant information from here daily.
Thanks for finally writing about > CUPCAKE REHAB | est. 2007 < Loved it!
Great goods from you, man. I have take note your stuff previous
to and you’re just too great. I actually like what you’ve bought here, really like what you are stating and the best way by which you assert it.
You make it entertaining and you still care for to stay it sensible.
I can not wait to read much more from you. That is actually
a terrific site.
Zune and iPod: Most people compare the Zune to the Touch, but after seeing how slim and surprisingly small and light it is, I consider it to be a rather unique hybrid that combines qualities of both the Touch and the Nano. It’s very colorful and lovely OLED screen is slightly smaller than the touch screen, but the player itself feels quite a bit smaller and lighter. It weighs about 2/3 as much, and is noticeably smaller in width and height, while being just a hair thicker.
Hi, I do think this is a great web site. I stumbledupon it 😉 I may revisit once again since i have bookmarked
it. Money and freedom is the greatest way to change,
may you be rich and continue to help other people.
Heya i’m for the primary time here. I came across this
board and I in finding It truly helpful & it helped me out a lot.
I’m hoping to give something again and help others such
as you helped me.
I am regular reader, how are you everybody? This post posted at this
web page is actually fastidious.
Pretty! This has been a really wonderful article.
Thanks for supplying this info.
Wow, wonderful weblog layout! How lengthy have you been blogging for?
you made blogging glance easy. The entire look of your site is fantastic,
as well as the content material!
Heya i am for the first time here. I found this board and I
find It truly useful & it helped me out a lot. I hope
to give something back and aid others like you helped me.
You’ve made some decent points there. I checked on the web
for additional information about the issue and found most individuals will go along with your views on this web site.
Attractive section of content. I just stumbled upon your weblog and in accession capital
to assert that I get in fact enjoyed account
your blog posts. Any way I will be subscribing to your feeds and even I achievement you access consistently rapidly.
Remarkable! Its really awesome article, I have got much clear idea regarding from this article.