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Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Chew on This | Crazy Cooking Challenge - Mac and Cheese


Hi Everyone! We were invited to take part in a fun cooking challenge
and we're so excited.

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Our first assignment - search and find a Mac and Cheese recipe made by a fellow blogger. 
Make said recipe and submit a post to share. Spreading the recipe and blog love.
Not too shabby!


Mac and Cheese is much loved in our house. Especially by The Husband.
So, I wanted to select a recipe that would satisfy Husband and 
be quick and easily made by me.

I chose a Smitten Kitchen recipe. If you haven't visited, you must. 
Deb's writing is clever and her recipes are divine. Plus, this easy Mac and Cheese recipe 
included a pound of cheddar cheese, which was pretty much a requirement by The Husband.


Prep time was quick. The longest task being the shredding of the pound of cheese.
But the fact that you don't cook the pasta prior to baking will keep this recipe
on my 'go to' list. It just doesn't get easier. Oh, and it's good. Just ask The Husband. 



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Here's the recipe:

Easiest Baked Mac and Cheese
(adapted from smitten kitchen who adapted from The New York Times)

2 T Butter
1 C cottage cheese
2 C milk
1 t dry mustard
pinch of cayenne
pinch of fresh grated nutmeg
1/2 t salt
1/4 t ground black pepper
1 pound shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 pound elbow pasta, uncooked (I used penne)

Preheat oven to 375℉. Prepare your 9" baking pan by greasing with 1 T of butter.

In a food processor or blender, puree your cottage cheese, dry mustard, cayenne, nutmeg, salt and pepper until smooth. Add your milk and blend to combine. Pour this mixture into a large bowl and mix in all of your grated cheese minus 1/4 cup (this will be used to top the Mac and Cheese). Fold in your uncooked pasta and stir to combine thoroughly.

Pour mixture into your prepared pan and cover with foil. Into the oven and bake for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, remove foil, add your reserved shredded cheddar and cube your remaining 1 T of butter and scatter over the top of you Mac and Cheese. Back into the oven for another 30-40 minutes or until browned and bubbly. Allow to cool about 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

8 comments:

  1. SUper Easy Recipes are #1 in my book!!

    Stopping by from the MACARONI & CHEESE Linky Party through Moms Crazy Cooking

    ReplyDelete
  2. I've never seen a recipe with cottage cheese, how interesting and it looks good.

    My Crazy Cooking Challenge entry: Velvety Mac & Cheese.

    Lisa~~
    Cook Lisa Cook

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  3. Cottage cheese must make for a great addition to the texture of mac. YUMMY. What a great looking dish.

    ReplyDelete
  4. This sounds really good! Love the cottage cheese addition!
    Come see mine at http://www.willcookforsmiles.com/2011/09/crazy-cooking-challange-mac-n-cheese.html

    ReplyDelete
  5. WOW, I've never tried NOT cooking the pasta.

    This challenge was so much fun! Hope you check out my Mac & Cheese Bites too!
    http://momscrazycooking.blogspot.com/2011/09/macaroni-and-cheese-bites-crazy-cooking.html

    ReplyDelete
  6. quick and easy plus yum is a great combo!

    tnicolej.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Maaaan. =) The mac looks amaaazing. Will give it a try, as bad as I am as a cook!

    ___
    International Calls to Australia

    ReplyDelete