move over martha!

I FINALLY found a macaroni and cheese recipe that I love.  I have been on the hunt to find  a recipe that is both egg free and CREAMY.  This recipe is the cat’s meow….the bee’s knee’s…the PERFECT blend.  This was my 5^th try and of course it is a Martha freggin Stewart recipe.  No shocker there.   Thankssssss Martha.

{via}

Perfect Macaroni and Cheese

Ingredients

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for dish

5 1/2 cups milk

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

4 1/2 cups (about 18 ounces) grated sharp white cheddar

2 cups (about 8 ounces) grated Gruyere or 1 1/4 cups (about 5 ounces) grated pecorino Romano
(I used Gruyere)

1 pound elbow macaroni

Method

1. Heat the oven to 375 degrees. In a medium saucepan set over medium heat, heat milk. Melt remaining 6 tablespoons butter in a high-sided skillet over medium heat. When butter bubbles, add flour. Cook, stirring, 1 minute.

2. Slowly pour hot milk into flour-butter mixture while whisking. Continue cooking, whisking constantly, until the mixture bubbles and becomes thick.

3. Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in salt, nutmeg, black pepper, cayenne pepper, 3 cups cheddar, and 1 1/2 cups Gruyere or 1 cup pecorino Romano. Set cheese sauce aside.

4. Fill a large saucepan with water. Bring to a boil. Add macaroni; cook 2 to 3 fewer minutes than manufacturer's directions, until outside of pasta is cooked and inside is underdone. (Different brands of macaroni cook at different rates; be sure to read the instructions.) Transfer the macaroni to a colander, rinse under cold running water, and drain well. Stir macaroni into the reserved cheese sauce.

5. Pour the mixture into the prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle remaining 1 1/2 cups cheddar and 1/2 cup Gruyere or 1/4 cup pecorino Romano. Bake until browned on top, about 30 minutes. Transfer dish to a wire rack to cool for 5 minutes; serve.

I brought this to a little group birthday dinner Saturday which was a blast. Casey and her husband Nick have birthdays that are a day apart and Matt’s birthday is next week so we just added him to the mix.

 their new puppy!

Also this weekend I went to Mary Jo’s which is the most overwhelming place I have been to.  I think I lasted thirty minutes and got the heck out of there.  I am trying to find a print to make DIY roman shades with fabric that isn’t that expensive in case I fail so I won’t feel sad and broke…just sad.

Cheers!