I am so happy that you have landed in my little corner of cyberspace. If you join me here, you will, hopefully, get to know a little about me. You will read my thoughts, my hopes and dreams, and see some of my favorite things. I hope you will visit often. I will try to update it regularly and hopefully you will see an improvement in the blog along the way. Thank you for stopping in to see me as I travel on this journey called "life"!













Wednesday, April 6, 2011

CREAMY MAC AND CHEESE


My son, Connor, is here on Spring Break this week.  In anticipation of Connor's visit, David suggested that I make mac and cheese.  You know....since Connor was coming.  According to my husband, we have different food when Connor is here than we do when he is not.  Maybe he's right.  Maybe it is "special" food. 

I told David that I would make anything that he wanted me to make at any time.  We didn't have to have "special" food only when Connor comes.  You've seen some of the food that I've been preparing for David lately.  Is he deprived?  I didn't think so.  I think he just needs to speak up when I try to engage him in planning meals and let me know what he's hungry for.  We will see how that works going forward.  I hope he will tell me when he's craving something in particular.  I aim to please!  Anyway...

Since he requested it and since Connor is here to enjoy it, as well, I made the mac and cheese for dinner tonight to go with our grilled pork chops and sautéed kale.  I used my father-in-law's recipe for it and I will have to say that it turned out great.  I like it that I didn't have to cook the macaroni before I put it in the casserole dish.  That saved a lot of time.

Cappy's Creamy Mac and Cheese

2 Tbsp. Butter
1 cup Cottage Cheese, not low fat
2 cups Milk, not skim
1 tsp. Dry Mustard
Pinch Cayenne
Pinch Nutmeg
1/2 tsp. Salt
1/4 tsp. Pepper
1 lb. Grated cheese
(I used 8 oz. Cabot Seriously Sharp Cheddar & 8 oz. Cabot Extra Sharp)
1/2 lb. small pasta, uncooked (I used elbow macaroni)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Use 1 tbsp. butter to grease a 9" baking dish.  In blender, blend cottage cheese, milk, mustard, cayenne, nutmeg, salt and pepper together.   In a large bowl, combine all but 1/4 cup of grated cheese, milk mixture and uncooked pasta.  Pour into the prepared pan.

Bake, tightly covered, for 30 minutes.  Uncover the pan, stir gently and add the reserved 1/4 cup grated cheese and the remaining butter on top.  Bake uncovered for an additional 30 minutes.

This recipe is being linked up here for 
Miz Helen's Full Plate Thursday.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Have a great Thursday!


Miz Helen’s Country Cottage

18 comments:

  1. My family loves mac n cheese, but I am challenged when I make it for some reason! I've tried uncooked on top of the stove, I'll have to give yours a try, it looks delicious! Enjoy the visit with your son :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. The addition of the cottage cheese looks interesting. I will definitely have to try it!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Alright, I either need to sedate myself and get on a plane to visit you, or I need to get to the grocery store and buy some macaroni to make this. I just ate breakfast awhile ago, and you've made me hungry again!!! This looks absolutely luscious ... :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. that sounds wonderful! I love not having to pre-cook the macaroni. :-) I wonder if our son would eat this. He actually prefers Kraft to my own home made mac'n'cheese. How pathetic is that! But I will try this recipe. I like the little bit of heat in it. :-) Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  5. mac and cheese is one of my favorites and it's always better when mom makes it. this looks delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  6. hmmmm....is this one going to be in your First Edition Cookbook?....I'm in line for a signed copy ! ! ))smiles)) Tell Connor Hello ! !

    ReplyDelete
  7. This is something Iw ould request all the time, looks lovely and creamy.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I like the addition of cottage cheese in mac and cheese! Interesting!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Candace,
    There is nothing like a great Mac N Cheese, and of course yours is great! I love the Cayenne that give it that little kick, pure comfort. Thank you so much for sharing at Full Plate Thursday and hope to see you next week!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Connor is one lucky fella! Your mac and cheese looks sooo good! I always use Cabot cheese too. that stuff is amazing!!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. My stomach is growling now - this looks delicious! I don't make mac and cheese often - maybe I should start!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Oh Candace - this looks SO, SO good. I love a creamy style mac-n-cheese!!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I am a little behind in following, but as you can see I do my best to make up for it. My husband complains too when I make something special for my son. I believe he is a bit jealous, although I do not neglkect him at all just like you! I think they just want al our attention all the time. Mac'n Cheese is a classic American comfort food. I got to know it when I was there and I loved it!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Ohhhh! this sounds great! Fantastic comfort eating, mmm!! xxxxxxx

    ReplyDelete
  15. Looks fabulous. I like how you can take a favorite kid food and add a grown up spin on it.
    Blessings!

    ReplyDelete
  16. This sounds like the mac and cheese I make! It's sweet of you to make special meals for your son, even if it's unintentional :) Thanks for sharing!
    ~Jacquelyn

    ReplyDelete
  17. oh i was just looking at a tomato mac and cheese on another site! must be that time of the year bring out the comfort!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for visiting me today! I hope you have enjoyed your time here and that you will return again. Please leave me a comment to let me know that you have stopped by! I respond to each and every comment by email, if possible, and by returning a visit to your blog. Have a great day!