Favorite Foods of Fall ~ Day 2

Favorite Foods of Fall Week continues with...
Macaroni & Cheese 

it's the perfect fall food!

Mac 'n Cheese is great as a side dish, main dish or even as a appetizer (just dish a scoop in small dishes/cups & serve warm)... 

You can jazz it up by adding:

Veggies ~ like broccoli, carrots or caulaflower

Meats ~ like bacon, pancetta, ham, ground beef or ground sausage  

If you like it spicy, add Sriracha, diced Jalapeno, or spicy ground sausage 

Here's easy & yummy basic 

Homemade Mac 'n Cheese recipe 

from the super fabulous Rebecca Crump, 

check out her yummy blog

Ezra Pound Cake

Macaroni and Cheese

From Rebecca Crump (EzraPoundCake.com)

Serves 3 to 4 as a main course

• 1 1/2 CUPS (6 OUNCES) GRATED EXTRA-SHARP CHEDDAR
• 1 CUP (4 OUNCES) GRATED MONTEREY JACK
• 1/2 CUP (2 OUNCES) GRATED PARMESAN OR GRUYERE
• 2 1/2 CUPS MILK
• 3 TABLESPOONS UNSALTED BUTTER, PLUS MORE FOR THE DISH
• 3 TABLESPOONS ALL-PURPOSE FLOUR
• 1 TEASPOON GROUND MUSTARD
• 1 TEASPOON KOSHER SALT
• 1/4 TEASPOON MINCED GARLIC (OPTIONAL)
• 1/4 TEASPOON FRESHLY GROUND BLACK PEPPER
• 1/8 TEASPOON FRESHLY GRATED NUTMEG
• DASH OF CAYENNE
• 1/2 POUND (8 OUNCES) ELBOW MACARONI
• HOT SAUCE (OPTIONAL)

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Set a baking rack in the top-third of the oven. Butter a 1 1/2 quart casserole dish (or an 8″-by-8″ baking dish). Set aside.
2. Combine the cheddar, Monterey Jack and Gruyere cheeses in a medium bowl. Transfer 1 cup of cheese to a small bowl; reserve for topping.
3. In a medium saucepan, warm the milk over medium heat.
4. In a Dutch oven or saucepan set over low heat, melt the butter. Add flour immediately; whisk to combine for about 1 minute. Raise the temperature to medium, and slowly whisk in the milk. Bring it to a boil to thicken, whisking the entire time. (You might need to raise the temperature slightly to get things going.)
5. Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the mustard, salt, garlic, pepper, nutmeg, cayenne and the 2 cups of mixed cheeses (from the larger bowl). Set the cheese sauce aside.
6. Fill a large saucepan with water, and bring it to a boil over high heat. Add macaroni. Return the water to a boil, and cook for about 10 minutes. Drain well, and add pasta to the cheese sauce. Stir to combine. Taste, adjust the seasonings, and add hot sauce, if you wish.
7. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Top with reserved cheese, and bake in the top-third of the oven for about 25 minutes, until the top is golden brown and bubbly, but the inside is still creamy.

Mac 'n Cheese

I love you so...