Kitchen Conundrum

Rich & Creamy Macaroni and Cheese

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Creamy and Cheesey Macaroni and CheeseToday I teamed up with 15 of my food blogger friends to bring you some fabulous recipes to help you get your daily servings of dairy.

Fresh nutritious dairy foods like milk, cheese and yogurt don’t just taste delicious; they’re good for your body! Dairy foods are the #1 source of calcium in most individual’s daily diet and offer 9 essential nutrients.  Milk and dairy products are fresh 365 days a year, making Dairy Month a great time to think about exciting, nutrient rich combinations like creative grilled cheese sandwiches, salads and refreshing desserts.

Join in the fun & deliciousness and celebrate “All Things Dairy” with 15 Food Bloggers from around the country as we celebrate with some of our favorite dairy recipes. Here’s one I think you will really like!

Rich & Creamy Macaroni and Cheese

When it comes to Mac & Cheese, there are so many different variations but none is creamier than this one!  And it packs a punch with the addition of Greek yogurt.

The trick to creamy Mac & Cheese  is to cook the pasta over a low flame in milk, not in water. You must be very careful to keep the pasta moving by stirring it frequently and to not scorch the milk. Low heat is essential as you want the pasta to absorb most all of the milk. This is not a five minute Mac & Cheese, but more like a twenty-five minute Mac & Cheese. However, you will be rewarded for your patience with an incredibly rich and creamy Macaroni and Cheese that’s sure to please the whole family.

 

Rich & Creamy Macaroni and Cheese
 
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Ingredients
  • 2 cups Milk
  • 2 cups dried pasta (I like Medium Shells but use whatever shape you'd like.)
  • ½ small onion, diced fine
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. black (or white) pepper
  • ¼ tsp. ground nutmeg
  • ¼ tsp. Cayenne pepper
  • 1 6-oz. container Greek yogurt
  • 1 tbs. butter
  • 2 cups grated cheese (A combination of Sharp Cheddar and Gruyere works best)
Method
  1. In a medium saucepan over very low heat, add the onion, milk and pasta. While stirring frequently, simmer over low heat until the pasta is cooked and most of the milk is absorbed.
  2. Add the salt, pepper, nutmeg, and Cayenne to the milk/pasta mixture.
  3. Once almost all of the milk is absorbed and the pasta is cooked, add the Greek yogurt, butter and cheese. Stir gently to combine and melt the cheese.
  4. Taste and adjust seasonings if need be. Serve right away.

 

 

Creamy and Cheesey Macaroni and Cheese-2

 

 

See what delicious dairy dishes my Blogging friends are cooking up:

Souffle Bombay – Blueberry Cheesecake Shooters
What The Heck’s A Bonbon? – Strawberry Watermelon Cucumber Granita with Vanilla Lemon Frozen Yogurt
Mind Over Batter – Strawberries and Cream Icebox Cake
Pass The Sushi – Roasted Blueberry Graham Cracker Crumble Frozen Yogurt
We’re Parents – Strawberry Cheesecake Pancakes with Whipped Topping
Little Kitchie – Spinach & Prosciutto Pizza
Sugar Dish Me – Healthy Creamy Summer Pasta
The Vintage Mom – Strawberry Creamsicles & Other Creamy Treats
Real: The Kitchen and Beyond – 11 Grilled Cheese Combinations
Giggles Gobbles & Gulps – 10 Fun Ways To Drink Your Milk
How I Pinch A Penny – Banana Pudding Shooters
An Opera Singer In The Kitchen – Double Cheese Spinach & Mushroom Omelette
It’s A Keeper – 10 Ice Cream & Frozen Treat Recipes
The Suburban Soapbox – The Ultimate Chocolate Martini

 

 

Dressy Pasta “Risotto” aka Macaroni and Cheese – French Fridays with Dorie

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#FFWD Dressy Pasta Risotto-5561

The first recipe up for January for French Fridays with Dorie is called Dressy Pasta “Risotto”.  It’s not really a risotto at all. The “risotto” part actually comes from slowly cooking the pasta in (chicken) broth until it is nearly totally absorbed by the pasta, like it would be if it were arborio rice. Other than that, it’s more akin to a fancy mac & cheese.  What would be a quite ordinary dish becomes extraordinary with the addition of freshly grated Parmesan, heavy cream and a dollop of mascarpone. The rich sauce tasted much like the one I use for potatoes gratin, and I was tempted to add a dash of nutmeg to it, but everyone who had a spoon in the pot said to leave it alone. I know when I am outvoted, and truth be told, it didn’t need it. (Although, I may try it again with this addition another time.)

It is important to only salt after you’ve used the broth and the Parmesan as they both tend to be rather salty already and you don’t want to overdo it!

This was a super fast and very easy, one pot recipe-making for minimal fuss and a quick clean up. Everyone really enjoyed it too, an empty crock and some spoons was all that was left. I can easily see myself making this again.

#FFWD Dressy Pasta Risotto-5577

While I cannot share the actual recipe, you can (and should!) buy the book and cook along with us. It’s great fun! Every Friday we make a new recipe. Looking forward to next weeks! For details and to see how others are recreating the dishes from this awesome book, check out the FFWD site.

Buy the book:

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