Recipe: Mac & Cheese

       I recently found this recipe for mac & cheese that I absolutely loved. Other than the fact that it takes 20 minutes to prepare, I love that this meal can have multiple uses. It can be served as the main meal or as a side dish for a barbeque or party. I also love that it is a no-bake recipe, meaning that you don’t have to put it in your oven and cook it when its done, you do everything on the top of your stove. Bonus: it only has 6 ingredients!

Ingredients:

·      1 Tablespoon Kosher Salt

·      1 Pound Fusilli (corkscrew) pasta

·      ¾ Pound of Bacon diced

·      3 Cups Heavy Cream

·      ½ Pound shredded sharp cheddar cheese …. I buy a 6-8oz block of cheese, don’t buy the pre-shredded cheese from the market it doesn’t give it good flavor.

Directions:

  

 1.     Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Salt it generously (it should taste like the sea). Stir in the pasta and cook according to the package directions. Drain (but don’t rinse, or you’ll rinse away starches that will help thicken the sauce) and return to the empty pot.

          2.     Meanwhile, place a large (12- to 14-inch) sauté pan over high heat. When hot, add the bacon and sauté until browned and crispy, about 5 minutes. When cooked remove the bacon from the pan and drain on paper towels.

          3.     Pour off the grease from the pan (into a metal can or heatproof cup, not down the drain or you’ll potentially clog your pipes) and return the pan to medium-high heat. Add the heavy cream and bring to a boil, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Lower the heat to medium and continue to simmer until the cream is reduced slightly, about 3 minutes.

         4.     Add the Cheddar cheese and bacon. Stir well and cook over medium-high heat, stirring now and then, until the cheese has melted and the mixture thickens, about 3 minutes. Season with the salt and pepper.

        5.     Stir the sauce into the cooked and drained pasta in the pot. Place over medium heat and simmer for 1 to 2 minutes to thicken the sauce and allow the pasta to absorb the flavors, stirring now and then.

        6.     Serve and Enjoy!

    xoxo