Pimped up mac ‘n cheese
Winter is my favourite food season. I fill the rainy, stormy days with bowls of steaming stews, pasta dishes and soups. There is nothing quite as comforting as a fragrantly warm meal when it’s dark and cold outside. Thanks to @faircapedairies, my winter comforts are even more indulgent. I love cooking with their milk and yoghurts, as it’s simply the right thing to do. This weekend, I zhooshed up a familiar #lockdown recipe with some staples I had in the fridge and cupboard, as I really didn’t feel like going to the shops. The result? The Tall Hedonist and I feasted on an almost one-pot creamy mac ‘n cheese, stuffed with bacon, mushrooms and handfuls of cheese!
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 - 3 cups Uncooked Macaroni
- 3 - 3 1/2 cups Fair Cape Dairies Full Cream Milk
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 tbsp Butter
- 1/4 cup Water
- 1 tbsp Mustard (Wholegrain, Dijon or English)
- 1 cup Grated cheddar cheese
- 1 pack Shoulder Bacon, diced
- 1 punnet Button Mushrooms, sliced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Crispy onion sprinkles and parsley to garnish
Instructions
- In a large pot combine a pinch of salt, milk, garlic powder, mustard, butter and water. Bring to a boil.
- Add in macaroni, reduce heat to low.
- Continue to simmer stirring frequently until noodles are cooked (about 20 minutes).
- Continue to add little bits of milk if the liquid becomes low, or the mixture looks too dry (it should be deliciously saucy, but thick).
- In a separate pan, fry your bacon in a bit of olive oil until crispy. Cook the mushrooms in the same pan with a bit of butter until soft and browned. Set aside until later.
- Remove the macaroni from heat when it’s done and stir in the cheese, bacon and mushrooms. Season to taste. Let it stand for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
Tips:
• The sauce should not be dry; continue to add little bits of milk to keep it saucy.
• You can add any cheese, or a combination of cheeses.
• Feel free to add other vegetables, or to leave out the bacon. Will also be fantastic with tinned tuna.
• Garnish with crispy onion sprinkles and fresh herbs. Recipe by: The Little Hedonist www.thelittlehedonist.co.za @thelittlehedonist
• The sauce should not be dry; continue to add little bits of milk to keep it saucy.
• You can add any cheese, or a combination of cheeses.
• Feel free to add other vegetables, or to leave out the bacon. Will also be fantastic with tinned tuna.
• Garnish with crispy onion sprinkles and fresh herbs. Recipe by: The Little Hedonist www.thelittlehedonist.co.za @thelittlehedonist
