I can't say that I recall my mother ever making mac & cheese from scratch when I was growing up. I don't think it was something that my father would have enjoyed and my mother cooked to please him for the most part. He was the main bread winner for the family and he didn't like anything too much out of the ordinary. In fact for a very long time the only seasonings he wanted my mother to use were salt and black pepper.
Occasionally she would treat us to a box of Kraft Mac & Cheese and we were pretty happy about that. When I was going to University with my first husband Kraft Mac & Cheese got us through a whole year. I remember at the time, you could buy 10 boxes for $1. That's a lot of Mac & Cheese! We didn't mind. We were young, poor, and had other priorities.
A dish such as this Mac & Cheese I am showing you here today would have been a real luxury. (Its still a real luxury!) Both in calories and cheeses . . . and this uses not one but four kinds of delicious cheese!
A nutty Comte, a sharp strong cheddar, some rich tallegio and salty parmesan. This is the Queen of Mac & Cheese dishes! Simple ingredients put together beautifully. This is nothing less than spectacular!
*Gourmet Mac & Cheese*Serves 4Printable Recipe
A truly creamy and rich version of macaroni and cheese with three delicious cheeses and a crunchy topping.
fine sea salt8 ounces of maccheroni pasta (macaroni or some other tublar pasta) (1/2 pound)2 TBS unsalted buttera handful of crushed buttered Italian crackers, I used whole wheat (Similar to Saltine crackers)90g of finely grated Parmesan cheese (1/2 cup)2 TBS plain flour450ml of whole milk (about 2 cups ), gently warmed90g grated strong cheddar cheese (3/4 cup)90g grated Comte cheese (3/4 cup)90g grated taleggio cheese (3/4 cup)freshly ground black pepper to taste
pinch of ground nutmeg
Cook the pasta to al dente according to the package directions in lightly salted water. Drain well, rinse in cold water, and drain again. Set aside.
Melt the butter in a large saucepan. Whisk in the flour in and allow to cook over low heat for about a minute. Slowly whisk in the warm milk. Cook and wisk until the sauce coats the back of a spoon and thickens. Stir in the cheddar cheese and all but 3 TBS each of the Comte and taleggio cheeses. Whisk and stir until all of the cheeses have melted and the sauce is smooth. Season to taste with salt, pepper and a pinch of freshly grated nutmeg. Remove the pan from the heat and fold in the cooked pasta.
Preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F/ gas mark 4. Butter a shallow 1 liter baking dish. Pour in the pasta and cheese sauce. Mix together the remaining cheeses along with the Parmesan cheese and sprinkle over top Sprinkle the crumbled crackers over top. Bake in the heated oven for 30 minutes, until golden brown and bubbly. Allow to stand for 10 minutes before serving.
You really need to do yourself a favorite and try this Mac & Cheese. I would serve this to company! And they would want seconds, so really . . . . I'd have to double the dish I think! If you are looking for something extraordinary to feed the family this weekend, look no further. This is IT!! Bon Appetit!