Five Cheese Mac and Cheese

If you mess up the Mac and Cheese on Turkey Day, there is an extreme possibility that YOUR family may disown you. Don't WANT TO chance that. Use this Macaroni & Cheese recipes of mine.

My infamous southern style mac n cheese recipe is just AMAZING. . I mean, boiling the pasta in chicken stock to make sure it's SUPER TASTY is a game-changer on its own, but then. Layers of cheese, seasonings, and butter!! Before we get into this delicious recipe, you guys know I love to give you the history and story about the dish.

The precise origin of macaroni and cheese is unknown, even though it most likely beckons from Northern Europe, with the earliest known recorded recipe being jotted down in 1769. A staple of THE American cuisine, the creamy combo made its way to the United States courtesy of Thomas Jefferson. He, while visiting France, became enamored of fashionable pasta dishes served there. He brought back noodle recipes and a pasta machine since this foodstuff was unavailable in the Colonies. As president, he served macaroni and cheese at an 1802 state dinner.

The Five Kinds of Cheese You'll Need for Cheese Baked Mac and Cheese

Pecorino – Sharp with a salty flavor and hard texture.

Gruyere – Sweet but slightly salty. Did you know that Gruyere cheese is named after the town of Gruyeres?

Mozzarella- Mild, refreshing and supple, this Mozzarella gets its flavors from either cow or buffalo milk. It has a springy and dense consistency with a light and barely discernible aroma of wholesome cream

Sharp Cheddar Cheese_ Sharp is the term that indicates how cheddar changes in flavor and texture as it ages. sharp 6 to 9 months

Parmesan Cheese- True Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese has a sharp, complex fruity/nutty taste with a strong savory flavor and a slightly gritty texture.

Ingredients:

1 Pound dried pasta like elbow, penne or shell

4 Tablespoons Butter

¼ Cup of All-Purpose Flour

½ teaspoon Ground Mustard

½ teaspoon Ground Pepper

½ teaspoon Onion Powder

½ teaspoon Garlic Powder

1 Cups Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese

1 Cup Parmesan Cheese

1 Cup Gruyere Cheese

1 Cup Pecorino Cheese

1 Cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

2 Cup Chicken Stock

3 Cup Of Milk

Panko Topping

2 Tablespoon Butter

1 Tablespoon Olive Oil

1 Cup Seasoned Panko Crumbs

Instructions:

Preheat oven

Begin cooking your pasta according to the package instructions, but instead of using water use 2 cup of chicken stock

Melt butter in a Dutch Pot or 10” cast iron skillet over medium heat. Once it been melted, add flour and whisk until smooth with no lumps remaining.

Now add spices and Milk (Pepper, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and ground mustard) stir well and brings to a boil. You may notice the butter and milk will separate, continue to heat, stirring frequently, until the milk is heated and they combine.

When the mixture comes to a boil, reduce the heat, bring to a simmer and stir until mixture is thickened.

6. Reduce the temperature to low and add all the cheese, stir until cheese are melted and smooth.

7. Add cooked pasta, don’t forget to drained the pasta and stir until its all covered in cheese

8. Set aside too cool to prepare your panko topping.

Panko Topping:

Add you butter and olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally until melted

Now add the panko and still well until the oil and butter has been absorbed. Continue to stir until panko is lightly toasted and the color turned medium brown.

Now add your Mac and cheese to your baking dish of choice.

Sprinkle the toasted panko evenly over the Mac and cheese.

Transfer to oven and bake uncovered on 350F for 15-20 mins depending on your oven until golden brown and bubbly. Let cool for 20 minutes. Enjoy!!

Note: I recommend buying your own block cheese of Parmesan Cheese, Gruyere Cheese and Pecorino Cheese, grating it yourself to guarantee that the cheese melts properly.

• You can make ahead Mac and Cheese two days ahead of time and chilled

• Baked Mac and Cheese freezes well. Let it cool completely on a rack before freezing, and then wrap it well with foil. Defrost the frozen mac and cheese in the refrigerator and then bake at 350 degrees for 30 mins.

Recipe Notes

• Freshly Grated Cheese: Grate your cheese right before cooking for the best result

• Making the Roux: You don’t want to rush through the roux (the butter and flour mixture) The flour needs to cook for four minutes with the butter. You don’t want raw lumping flour tasting sauce.

• Adding Your Milk: It will take your milk a couple of minutes for the milk to thicken up

• Pasta: You want to cook your pasta Al Dente since it will finish cooking in the oven

• Equipment: A box grater for cheese, a large 9x13 Baking Dish, or Large Dutch Oven