Recipe RECIPE - Ultimate Macaroni and Cheese

[The Helper]

Ultimate Macaroni and Cheese

Looking for a quick and easy Mac and Cheese recipe? This is not it. This is a homemade Southern Variation of Mac and Cheese that has a whole lot going on. This recipe has more ingredients then most of these recipes in the index and is a big process for Mac and Cheese. However, this is the kind of Mac and Cheese that you take to a get together or a special occasion. If you are up to the challenge and you pull it off this can be a superstar!

Ingredients:

• 1 chicken bouillon cube, such as Knorr
• 1 pound large elbow pasta
• 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1 cup shredded mild cheddar cheese
• 1 cup shredded colby jack or pepper jack cheese (for a kick)
• 1 cup shredded Gruyère cheese
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 4 Tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup all purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 3/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon mustard powder
• 1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon hot sauce
• 3 Tablespoons minced fresh chives, for serving

Instructions:

Pasta:

• Fill a large, heavy-bottomed pot with 5 quarts water and bring to a boil over high heat
• Add the bouillon cube and stir to dissolve
• Add the pasta and cook until al dente, according to the package instructions
• Drain the pasta and slide to the side.

Prep:

• Position a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 375.
• In a large bowl, toss together the cheddars, colby jack, Gruyère, and mozzarella until combined.

Cheese Sauce:

• In a large, heavy-bottomed pot, melt the butter over medium heat
• Whisk in the flour and cook, whisking continuously, to form a roux, about 1 minute
• Whisk in the garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, paprika, mustard powder, sugar, nutmeg and cayenne until incorporated
• Whisk in the heavy cream, milk, sour cream, Worcestershire and hot sauce until combined, and let the sour cream completely melt into the sauce
• Whisk in half the shredded cheese mixture and let it melt completely into creamy deliciousness, whisking all the while
• Whisk until the sauce thickens a bit, about 3 minutes
• Then, add the drained pasta and stir to evenly coat it in the sauce.

Assemble, Bake and Serve:

• Transfer a third of the pasta mixture to a 9x13x2-inch baking pan and top with a third of the remaining cheese mixture
• Repeat two more times, finishing with the cheese
• Bake for 40-45 minutes, until the pasta is golden brown in places and the sauce is bubbling
• Remove from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes
• Garnish with chives and serve hot.

Note:

• This recipe can be prepped in advance and then warmed back to room temperature before baking

Source:

Make this 'ultimate mac and cheese' recipe when you want to impress on Thanksgiving

Jocelyn Delk Adams shares a recipe for the very best macaroni and cheese from her new cookbook, "Everyday Grand."

www.southernkitchen.com

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[The Helper]

The only thing I don't like about this recipe is the sheer number of ingredients. These kind of recipes can turn an everyday side into a 50 to 100 dollar adventure if you decide to get exotic cheeses into the mix. It is possible to get more ultimate on this recipe if you get better ingredients. There are just alot of ingredients in this recipe.