{"id":6175,"date":"2016-11-03T08:00:03","date_gmt":"2016-11-03T16:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kathycasey.com\/blog\/?p=6175"},"modified":"2018-03-15T15:56:22","modified_gmt":"2018-03-15T23:56:22","slug":"mac-cheese-yes-please","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/kathycasey.com\/blog\/mac-cheese-yes-please\/","title":{"rendered":"Mac & Cheese? Yes Please!"},"content":{"rendered":"

When I think of comfort foods, one of the first<\/u> things that come to mind is mac & cheese. Gooey, warm, and of course, cheeeeesy delicious!<\/p>\n

One of my favorite recipes is my 4-Cheese Penne Bake With Herb Bread Crumbs<\/strong>. Penne pasta, garlic and parmesan white sauce all tossed with loads of shredded cheese \u2013 \u00a0Cheddar, Mozzarella, Jack and Parmesan. Then covered with some fresh, herby bread crumbs for a nice crunch.<\/p>\n

\"mac-cheese\"
\nGooey, melted cheese bake \u2013 yum!
\n<\/strong>Photo from\u00a0Dishing with Kathy Casey<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Mac & cheese is perfect to customize. You can add your favorite ingredients like bacon for a cheddar bacon mac. Or how about roasted red peppers, green onions, artichokes… rotisserie chicken would be good\u2026 saut\u00e9ed mushrooms, sausage, green chilies \u2013\u00a0 the possibilities are endless.<\/p>\n

Or how about changing up the sauce part by mixing in some salsa or loads of garlic and curry? Nothing is off limits!<\/p>\n

So get creative and bake up some comforting cheesey goodness! \u2013Kathy<\/p>\n

4-Cheese Penne Bake With Herb Bread Crumbs<\/strong><\/p>\n

* Four-, five- and six-cheese blends are available in most grocers’ dairy sections. If you wish to make your own grated cheese blend, try using a mixture of any of the following:, Jack, mozzarella, Gouda, Swiss, Havarti. I like to use Tillamook sharp cheddar cheese!<\/p>\n

Generously serves 6 – 8.<\/p>\n

Herb Bread Crumbs (recipe follows)
\n4 Tbsp. butter
\n1 Tbsp. minced garlic
\n4 1\/2 Tbsp. flour
\n4 cups milk
\n1 1\/2 tsp. salt
\n1\/4 tsp. black pepper
\n1 cup sour cream
\n1\/4 cup grated high-quality Parmesan cheese
\n1 pound dry penne pasta
\n2 cups (8 oz. wt.) grated four-cheese blend*
\n2 cups (8 oz. wt.) grated Cheddar cheese
\n1\/2 cup milk<\/p>\n

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.<\/p>\n

Make the Herb Bread Crumbs and set aside.<\/p>\n

In a large heavy-bottom sauce pan melt the butter over medium heat. Add the garlic and stir around for about 20 seconds — do not let garlic brown. Stir in the flour and cook for about 1 minute, stirring constantly.<\/p>\n

While stirring vigorously with a whisk, add the milk. Whisk well. Bring to a simmer and whisk occasionally until sauce is thickened, about 3 – 4 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in salt, pepper, sour cream and Parmesan cheese, and set aside.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook penne pasta per package directions until done. Drain well.<\/p>\n

In a very large bowl mix together the pasta and sauce, then fold in the grated cheeses until well combined. Place mixture into a lightly buttered, 13-inch x 9-inch baking pan.<\/p>\n

Sprinkle with Herb Bread Crumbs and bake in a 375-degree oven for about 30 minutes or until pasta is heated through, sides are slightly bubbling and top is golden brown.<\/p>\n

Herb Bread Crumbs<\/strong>
\nMakes about 1 1\/2 cups.<\/p>\n

3 cups packed, 1-inch French bread chunks
\n4 Tbsp. butter
\npinch salt and pepper
\n2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley
\n1\/2 tsp. dry basil leaves
\n1\/2 tsp. dry thyme leaves<\/p>\n

Place bread crumb ingredients in a food processor, and pulse processor on and off until the bread becomes chopped into a fine crumb and is well mixed with the other ingredients.<\/p>\n

Bread crumbs should be refrigerated until used and can be kept frozen for up to 1 month.<\/p>\n

Recipe by Kathy Casey Food Studios\u00ae – www.KathyCasey.com<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When I think of comfort foods, one of the first things that come to mind is mac & cheese. Gooey, warm, and of course, cheeeeesy delicious! One of my favorite recipes is my 4-Cheese Penne Bake With Herb Bread Crumbs. Penne pasta, garlic and parmesan white sauce all tossed with loads of shredded cheese \u2013 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":6176,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[11748,11355,57,1,4,11],"tags":[11594,10130,351,1116,1158,10124,1510,3828,1117,3823,1271,993,1177,1669,4220,328,9806,10131,1519,11597,1197,5100,324,4143,3657,6221,876,1594,3825,1537,6795,5075,1163,476,5082,10125,2739,11595,445,9944,11596,10547,10127,1616,11598,902],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\t\n