Comfort food at it’s best, Mac and Cheese!
This was a ten-minute meal since I had a half a pound of elbow pasta from the other night. A few simple ingredients and dinner is ready! I love a little crunch so I put some in a ramekin and topped with seasoned panko crumbs and popped under the broiler for a few minutes. You can skip that step.
I’m trying really hard to plan out my meals for the week so I’m not scrambling at night. On Sunday I made a recipe I saw in Valerie Bertinelli’s new cookbook while I was browsing at Barnes & Noble. This is my version (I didn’t buy the book). I didn’t have time to take photos it got all gobbled up but I’ll share my recipe at the end of the post.
Mac & Cheese
1/2 pound cooked elbow pasta
1/4 stick butter
Two TPSP flour
pint heavy cream
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar
salt, pepper & grated nutmeg
Using my cast iron skillet I melted the butter and added the flour cooking for about one minute stirring constantly. Add in cream, cheese, salt, pepper & nutmeg to taste. Stire in macaroni.
You could just sprinkle the whole top with the panko and pop the cast iron under the broiler but my little guy didn’t want them so I used a ramekin. Serve warm!
Sunday’s dinner.
Hamburger Helper.
1/2 pound cooked elbows
One pound ground beef
onion diced
clove of garlic chopped
small can of diced tomatoes
1 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar
salt, pepper, dry mustard, cayenne, and paprika
Saute onion and garlic until soft, add spices (I didn’t measure). Add beef and cook until no longer pink. Add tomatoes and elbow pasta, add cheese and serve.
Also, on the menu this week.
Two cheese grilled cheese (Monterey jack and jalapeno cheeses) on Tuscan garlic bread with tomato soup. Monday night.
Beef stew
Chicken noodle soup
Broccoli and pasta
What’s for dinner at your house?
You know me…I make the vegan version of mac and “cheese” but of how I love comfort food!! Looks delish!
What brand of cast iron skillet do you have? I’m looking to get a nice big one…do you like using it? Do you have any tips? Thanks…have a wonderful day…so sunny and warm here today! Love it…going to work on my chalkboard that’s on our front porch today. ; )
Hello! I got this one at Target it’s made in the USA is about all I know, lol! It’s deep which I love so you can pop in the oven! You have to dry them right away after washing. I just use a sponge and water, no soap. If the pan seems dry you can just oil it up with a paper towel and then bake in the oven upside down and it’ll come back to life. I usually just google instructions for it. Maybe I’ll do a post on it?
Can’t believe I never thought to prepare mac and cheese in my cast iron skillet; then I could just pop it in the oven to make the crunchy topping and not have to worry about dirtying another pan. This looks delicious! PInned.