Planning family gathering for 12. Four Quick, easy & tasty dinners. Ideas welcomed.?

Question

Location is in Louisiana. No spicy food please (elderly will be present). Chicken dishes & Veggie ideas most welcome.

Answer 1

Chicken

INGREDIENTS:
3 tablespoons butter
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon seasoning salt
1 teaspoon onion powder



DIRECTIONS:
Melt butter in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add chicken and sprinkle with garlic powder, seasoning salt and onion powder. Saute about 10 to 15 minutes on each side, or until chicken is cooked through and juices run clear.


A GOOD SIDE DISH WITH CHICKEN
Baked Pears
INGREDIENTS:
4 Bosc pears
2 tablespoons honey
3 tablespoons butter, melted
dash ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon lavender flowers (optional)



DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Peel pears and scoop out bottom core. Cut a small slice from the bottom so pears will stand upright. Place in a shallow baking dish and set aside.
Melt butter in the microwave or a small saucepan over medium heat. Drizzle pears with melted butter and honey, and sprinkle with ground ginger (and lavender, if using). Cover with aluminum foil with the stems poking through foil.
Bake in the preheated oven for about 1 hour, or until tender. Baste with released juices occasionally during baking, and again just before serving.

Answer 2

I like this, especially now that it's winter. Don't let the simplicity turn you off -- it's really good, and I'm a "foodie". Easy Chicken Bake 1 pkg (6 oz) Stove Top Stuffing Mix for Chicken 1-1/2 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces 1 can (10-3/4 oz) condensed cream of chicken soup 1/3 cup sour cream 1 bag (16 oz) frozen mixed vegetables, thawed, drained Preheat oven to 400°F. Prepare stuffing mix as directed on package; set aside. Mix chicken, soup, sour cream and vegetables in 13x9-inch baking dish; top with the stuffing. Bake 30 min or until chicken is cooked through.

Answer 3

You can get some great recipes from foodnetwork.com and click on quick and easy.

kraftfoods.com has a lot of simple ones as well as Campbells Soup web site. Good luck from another coonass! I'm from Alexandria, LA

Answer 4

Baked chicken breasts served with Pasta Alfredo and fresh cooked veggies

Seafood gumbo with rice

Grilled sausages with sauerkraut, hamburgers seasoned with teriyaki sauce, served with corn on the cob, potato salad, spinach salad, and leftovers from earlier dinners

Chicken and Spanish Rice with gazpacho and Raspberry trifle

Answer 5

Make a rice and vege dish,goes over very well.

PS:Make "some" louisiana dishes!
or move the dinner to another state!
Young or old "everybody" loves southern cooking!!!

Answer 6

Ok, this is my resipe for lemon chicken. It only has 4 ingredients, is really easy to make and is great for sharing with friends. This recipe makes for four people, but it's pretty easy to scale up or down:

4 chicken breasts
2 lemons, juiced
2tbsp olive oil
4-6tbsp demerara sugar

Cut chicken breasts into chuncky strips. Put into a large bowl with a little salt. Add lemon juice and olive oil, stir to mix.

Preheat your grill. Spread chicken out over a large flat baking sheet and sprinkle over half the sugar. Grill for 3-4 minutes until sugar is caramelised (melted) and then turn, sprinkle over the remaining syugar and grill until chicken cooked through, golden and juicy with sweet lemony juice.

Serve with a bowl or soured cream mixed with chives as a dip for the chicken, a large green salad and some crusty bread to mop up the juices. Great with a cold pale beer such as corona with a slice of lime.

Answer 7

http://www.razzledazzlerecipes.com/quantity/

This website has a lot of easy recipes that are made for larger quantities of people.

Answer 8

pork roast. crock pot, cinniman apple tea, brown sugar, apples, and roast. cook it all day it is tender and yummy makes your house smell awesome too. it is like chili too as in it tastes best the next day

Answer 9

MAGDALINAS VALENTINE CHICKEN

4 boneless skinless chicken breast
2 cans Campbell's condensed golden cream of mushroom soup
1/4 chopped yellow onion
milk (1) one soup can's amount

flour seasoned with garlic powder, season salt, pepper, and (dill weed) optional.

Season and flour 4 chicken breasts and fry in skillet with vegetable oil till done.

Drain and remove excess grease from skillet.

Combine chopped onion, milk, Campbell's condensed golden cream of mushroom soup, 2 tbsp of seasoned flour in skillet with cooked chicken breasts.

Simmer on medium heat till onions are soft.
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Steak & Ale Hawaiian Chicken

4-6 Chicken Breasts

Marinade:
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup + 2 Tbsp dry sherry
1 1/2 cup unsweetened pineapple juice
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp. garlic powder

Combine all ingredients and marinate chicken overnight.
Remove and grill, saute or bake. Baste with marinade ONLY during the
first several minutes of cooking. Top each breast with a slice of
Muenster or provolone cheese and broil just until cheese starts to melt.
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Panda Express Orange Chicken

2 lbs boneless chicken pieces, skinned
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp salt
white pepper
oil (for frying)
1/2 cup plus 1 Tbsp cornstarch
1/4 cup flour
1 Tbsp minced ginger root
1 tsp minced garlic
dash crushed hot red chiles
1/4 cup chopped green onions
1 Tbsp rice wine
1/4 cup water
1/2 to 1 tsp sesame oil

ORANGE SAUCE FOR STIR FRY:
2 tsp Minced zest and
1/4 cup Juice from
1 large Orange
1/2 tsp Sugar
2 Tbsp Chicken stock
1 Tbsp Light soy sauce

Combine all ingredients in small bowl and set aside.
Cut chicken pieces in 2" squares and place in large bowl. Stir in egg,
salt, pepper, and 1 Tbsp oil and mix well. Stir cornstarch and flour
together. Add chicken pieces, stirring to coat.
Heat oil for deep-frying in wok or deep-fryer to 375. Add chicken pieces,
a small batch at time, and fry 3 to 4 minutes or until golden and crisp.
(Do not overcook or chicken will be tough.) Remove chicken from oil with
slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Set aside.
Clean wok and heat 15 seconds over high heat. Add 1 Tbsp oil. Add ginger
and garlic and stir-fry until fragrant. Add and stir-fry crushed chiles
and green onions. Add rice wine and stir 3 seconds. Add Orange Sauce
and bring to boil. Add cooked chicken, stirring until well mixed.
Stir water into remaining 1 Tbsp cornstarch until smooth.
Add to chicken and heat until sauce is thick. Stir in 1 tsp sesame oil.

Serve at once.
Makes 6 servings.
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Planet Hollywood Cap'n Crunch Chicken

2 cups Cap'n Crunch cereal
1 1/2 cups Corn flakes
1 egg
1 cup milk
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 pounds chicken breast -- cut in 1oz. tenders
vegetable oil -- for frying

Coarsely grind or crush the Cap'n Crunch and Cornflakes. Set aside. Beat the egg with the milk. Set aside. Stir together the flour, onion and garlic powders and black pepper. Set aside. Dip the chicken pieces into the seasoned flour. Move around to coat well, then shake off excess flour. Dip into the egg wash, coating well, then dip into the Cap'n Crunch/Cornflakes mixture, coating well. Heat oil in a large heavy skillet to 325°F. Drop coated chicken tenders carefully into the hot oil and cook until golden brown and fully cooked: 3 to 5 minutes depending on the size of the tenders. Drain and serve immediately with Creole mustard sauce. Makes 8 servings.

Creole Mustard Sauce

1 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup Creole style mustard (Dijon is fine too)
1 tablespoon yellow mustard
1 tablespoon horseradish
1/2 teaspoon cider vinegar
1 dash Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon water
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon green onions -- sliced in 1/4" pieces
1 tablespoon crushed garlic packed in oil
1 teaspoon chopped green bell pepper -- (fine)
1 teaspoon finely chopped celery
1 teaspoon finely chopped onion

Mix all ingredients together thoroughly. Make about 1 1/2 cups.
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Grandmas spagetti sauce

extra virgin olive oil
1 Package cut pork chops 1/4 inch thick bone in( 6 to 8 chops )
1/2 chopped yellow onion
1 basket small button mushroom
8 large can hunts brand tomato sauce
2 cloves garlic, peeled and cut on ends
1 tsp Italian seasoning-basil, oregano,
2 turkish bay leaves
1 dash salt (to taste)
2-3 dash sugar (to taste)
splash of wine* optional ( I use chella lambrusco )

Heat some olive oil in bottom of a large kettle then, add pork chops and brown on both sides

Then add the chopped onions and cook till translucent.
When the onions get transparent and have cooked down add cans of sauce and seasonings and the cut and diced mushrooms . Then reduce heat to a low simmer and cook several hours till the meat is tender and falling off the bone . Careful to stir continually so as not to burn the sauce on the bottom of pan.

Serve over your favorite pasta or use for manicotti or lasagna.
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LONDON BROIL
Servings: 8 (5 1/2 oz. each)

4 lbs (2 large) flank steaks
FOR THE MARINADE (makes about 5 1/2 cups):
16 oz (2 cups) salad oil
8 oz (1 cup) soy sauce
8 oz (1 cup) Worcestershire sauce
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sesame seeds
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp dry mustard

MARINADE INSTRUCTIONS:
Combine all ingredients for marinade; blend together well. Place flank steak into marinade. Use small enough container to allow flank steak to be completely covered by marinade. Marinade 24 hours minimum and not more than 4 days or flavor of the meat will be overpowered by marinade

COOKING INSTRUCTIONS:
Preheat grill to 360 degrees F for 1/2 hour.

Drain marinade from meat. Reserve marinade up to two weeks if needed.

Grill flank steak to medium rare. This will take approximately 10 minutes cooking time total. Hold cooked flank steak in warmer if necessary.

Transfer the steak to a cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes.

Slice cooked flank steak at 30 degree angle 1/8-inch thick slices: This is essential to keep flank steak tender.
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Dad's Meatloaf with Tomato Relish
Recipe courtesy Tyler Florence


Recipe Summary
Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Yield: 6 to 8 servings
User Rating:


Tomato Relish:
Extra-virgin olive oil
1 onion, finely diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 bay leaves
2 red bell peppers, cored, seeded, and finely diced
2 tomatoes, halved, seeded, and finely diced
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 (12-ounce) bottle ketchup
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Meatloaf:
3 slices white bread, crusts removed, torn into chunks by hand
1/4 cup whole milk
11/2 pounds ground beef
1 pound ground pork
3 eggs
Leaves from 2 fresh thyme sprigs
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 to 4 bacon slices
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Coat a skillet with a 2-count of oil and place over medium heat. Saute the onion, garlic, and bay leaves for a few minutes to create a base flavor. Throw in the red peppers and cook them for a couple of minutes to soften. Now add the tomatoes; adding them at this point lets them hold their shape and prevents them from disintegrating. Stir in the parsley, ketchup, and Worcestershire; season with salt and pepper. Simmer the relish for 5 minutes to pull all the flavors together. Remove it from the heat; you should have about 4 cups of relish.
Place the torn white bread in a bowl and add the milk to just barely cover, swish the bread around in the milk and let it sit while you get the rest of the ingredients for the meat loaf together.
This is where you get your hands dirty! In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef and pork with 1 1/2 cups of the tomato relish, the eggs, and thyme; season with salt and pepper. Squeeze the excess milk from the bread and add the soaked bread to the meat mixture. To test, fry a small "hamburger" patty of the meatloaf until cooked; the patty should hold together but still have a soft consistency. Taste the patty for seasoning.
Lightly oil a cookie sheet. Transfer the meat mixture to the center of the cookie sheet and form into a log about 9 inches long and about 4 inches wide. Coat the top of the meatloaf with another 1/2 cup of the tomato relish. Lay the bacon across the top lengthwise.
Bake the meatloaf for 1 to 1 1/2 hours until the bacon is crisp and the meatloaf is firm. Rotate the meat loaf while it's baking every now and then to insure that the bacon browns evenly. Remove the meatloaf from the oven and let it cool a bit before slicing. Serve with the remaining tomato relish on the side. Unbelievably moist!



"All-American Meatloaf

Serves 6
Be careful not to overknead the meatloaf ingredients; doing so will result in a heavy and dense loaf.


3 slices white bread

1 large carrot, cut into 1/4-inch-thick rounds

1 rib celery, strings peeled, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

1/2 medium yellow onion, roughly chopped

2 cloves garlic, smashed and peeled

1/2 cup fresh flat-leaf parsleyleaves, loosely packed

1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons ketchup

4 1/2 teaspoons dry mustard

8 ounces ground pork

8 ounces ground veal

8 ounces ground round

2 large eggs, beaten

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1 teaspoon Tabasco Sauce, or to taste

1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary, plus more needles for sprinkling

2 tablespoons dark-brown sugar

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 small red onion, cut into 1/4 inch-thick rings

1. Preheat oven to 400°. Remove crusts from bread, and place slices in the bowl of a food processor. Process until fine crumbs form, about 10 seconds. Transfer breadcrumbs to a large mixing bowl. Do not substitute dried breadcrumbs in this step, as they will make your meatloaf rubbery.

2. Place carrot, celery, yellow onion, garlic, and parsley in the bowl of the food processor. Process until vegetables have been minced, about 30 seconds, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl once or twice. (Chopping vegetables this way saves time and ensures that vegetables will be small enough to cook through and not be crunchy). Transfer vegetables to bowl with the breadcrumbs.

3. Add 1/2 cup ketchup, 2 teaspoons dry mustard, pork, veal, beef, eggs, salt, pepper, Tabasco, and rosemary. Using your hands, knead the ingredients until thoroughly combined, about 1 minute. The texture should be wet, but tight enough to hold a free-form shape.

4. Set a wire baking rack into an 11-by-17-inch baking pan. Cut a 5-by-11-inch piece of parchment paper, and place over center of rack to prevent meat loaf from falling through. Using your hands, form an elongated loaf covering the parchment.

5. Place the remaining 3 tablespoons ketchup, remaining 2 1/2 teaspoons mustard, and brown sugar in a bowl. Mix until smooth. Using a pastry brush, generously brush the glaze over loaf. Place oil in a medium saucepan set over high heat. When oil is smoking, add red onion. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is soft and golden in places. Add 3 tablespoons water, and cook, stirring, until most of the water has evaporated. Transfer onion to a bowl to cool slightly, then sprinkle onion over the meatloaf.

6. Bake 30 minutes, then sprinkle rosemary needles on top. Continue baking loaf until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of the loaf registers 160°, about 25 minutes more. Let meatloaf cool on rack, 15 minutes."

got this from http://www.marthastewart.com/page.jhtml?...

OR YOU CAN TRY THIS RECIPE

"Meatloaf with Brown Sugar-Ketchup Glaze
Contributed by: teridavis
The perfect recipe cookbook


Ingredients
Glaze
1/2 c Ketchup or chili sauce
4 t Brown sugar
4 tsp Cider vinegar
Meatloaf
2 tsp Vegetable oil
1 Medium onion,chopped
2 Garlic cloves, minced
2 Large eggs
1 tsp Dried thyme leaves
1 tsp Salt
½ tsp Ground black pepper
2 tsp Dijon mustard
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
¼ tsp Hot red pepper sauce
½ c Milk, buttermilk or low-fat plain yogurt
2 lb Meat mix (ground chuck, ground turkey, ground pork…whatever you like)
2/3 cup Crushed saline crackers or quick oatmeal (or 1 1/3 cup fresh bread crumbs)
1/3 cup Minced fresh parsley leaves

Preparation
. Glaze: mix all ingredients in small bowel; set aside


2. Meatloaf: Preheat oven to 350°F. Heat oil in medium skillet. add onion and garlic, suate until softened, about 5 minutes; set aside to cool.


3. Mix eggs with thyme, salt, pepper, mustard, Worcestershire, pepper sauce, and milk or yogurt. Add egg mixture to meat in a large bowl,along with cracker/bread selection, parsley and cooked onions and garlic; mix with fort until evenly blended nad milk mixture does not stick to bowl. (If mixture does stick, add additional milk, a couple of tablespoons at a time, and continue stirring until mixture stops sticking.)


4. Turn meat mixture into a loaf pan (preferably one with a perforated bottom and drip pan). Use a fork to pull mixture away from pan sides. brush mixture with half the glaze. Bake until glaze is set (about 45 minutes). Brush with remaining glaze and continue to bake until second coat has set and loaf registers 160°F, about 15 minutes longer."

got this from http://www.mealsmatter.org/recipes-meals...
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Kahlúa® Brownies
½ cup butter
3 ounces unsweetened baking chocolate
1 ½ cup sugar
3 eggs
1 ½ cup all purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1/3 cup Kahlúa®

Heat oven to 350ƒ F (180ƒ C)
Grease an 8 X 8 inch cake pan.
Mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt, and set aside.
In a saucepan over low heat, melt the butter and chocolate, stirring frequently until smooth.
Remove the saucepan from heat, and let cool.
Beat eggs and sugar until light. Mix in cooled chocolate mixture and Kahlúa® flour mixture. Spread in the cake pan and bake for 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
Cool slightly, then brush the top with about 1-2 tablespoons of Kahlúa®.
Cut into squares.


Kahlúa® Chocolate Cake
3 eggs, separated
¾ cup granulated sugar
¼ cup butter
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 ½ teaspoon, baking soda
¾ cup strong cold coffee
¾ cup Kahlúa®
Kahlúa® Frosting

Grease & flour two 9 inch cake pans.
Preheat oven to 350† F.

Beat egg whites until frothy; then beat in sugar until stiff peaks form. Set aside. Cream butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Beat in egg yolks, one at a time. Sift flour, cocoa, baking soda together. Add to creamed mixture alternately with coffee and Kahlúa®: blend well. Fold egg whites into batter. Pour into prepared pans.
Bake 30-35 minutes, or until done. Cool 10 minutes. Invert on wire rack; remove pans. Cool before frosting. Serves 10-12

Kahlúa® Frosting:
In large bowl, cream 6 tablespoons. butter and 1 pound sifted powdered sugar. Add 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, 3 tablespoons Kahlúa® and 2-3 tablespoons hot coffee; beat until smooth.


http://www.disaronno.com/default.aspx...

http://www.kahlua.com/
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Broiled dill Salmon

Ingredients:

½ cup melted butter or olive oil
2 tsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. fresh dill chopped
1/8 tsp. red pepper
4 salmon steaks, cut 1 inch thick (about 2 pounds)


Preparation:
1.Place melted butter, lemon juice, salt, fresh chopped dill and red pepper in small bowl and stir to combine.

2.Preheat broiler.

3.Place salmon steaks on lightly greased pan and brush with half of seasoned butter.

4.Broil, 5 inches from source of heat, 5 to 10 minutes.

5.Turn heat to 400°F, close oven and bake an additional 5 - 8 minutes.

6.Brush with remaining butter blend. Serve.


Beverage suggestions:

Light lager beer, Chenin Blanc
Source(s):
http://www.redlobster.com/seafood/recipe...
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Ambrosia.



INGREDIENTS:
1 (11 ounce) can mandarin oranges
1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained
3 bananas, sliced
2 cups flaked coconut
2 cups miniature marshmallows
1 cup pecan pieces
1 (16 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 cup maraschino cherries


Also can add strawberries, Fruit cocktail and melon balls
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Fried Zucchini Coins
From Food Network Kitchens


Recipe Summary
Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 4 servings, as a side dish
User Rating:


1/2 cup cornmeal
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus for seasoning
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
Freshly ground black pepper
2 large eggs, slightly beaten
Vegetable oil, for shallow frying
2 small zucchini, sliced into 1/8 to 1/4-inch thick coins
Line a dish with paper towels and set aside. Whisk the cornmeal, flour, basil, salt, cayenne, and pepper in a bowl.
Beat the eggs in another bowl.
Heat 1/4-inch vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat until hot but not smoking.
Working in small batches, toss the zucchini coins in the eggs, then coat in the cornmeal mixture to cover completely. Carefully drop the zucchini into the oil, and fry until golden brown, about 2 minutes on each side or until crisp. Remove from the oil with a slotted spoon and place on the prepared plate. Season with salt, cool slightly and serve.
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PERFECT MACARONI AND CHEESE



1
If you have ever managed to have a lucid thought while eating this gooey, delicious dish, it may have been to wonder how macaroni and cheese—American cheese melted into a traditional British white sauce served over Italian pasta—came about. It all started during the age of European colonization, when seafaring men transported dried macarone—one of the few staples that could survive a year aboard ship—from Italy to Britain and to the American colonies.

American colonists did not have the selection of fresh produce and other ingredients that the Italians had; their meals were improvised from a larder of fresh or sour milk, stale bread, and pork drippings. So the imported pasta would often be served with a simple white sauce—milk thickened with flour and butter. Sometimes it was baked in a casserole with buttered breadcrumbs on top. A recipe for a casserole of macaroni, white sauce, and grated yellow cheese was first recorded in the “Boston Cooking School Cookbook” in 1896.

Kraft introduced its macaroni-and-cheese dinner in 1937 as a way to market processed American cheese and Tenderoni macaroni. It swept the nation. Recipes for homemade macaroni and cheese began to appear frequently in cookbooks.

Nowadays, making delicious homemade macaroni and cheese has become a mission for some people: They are always trying to make it more comforting, cheesier. It’s a completely worthwhile way to spend your time.


HOW TO MAKE IT FROM SCRATCH



2
To begin, you still need to make a white sauce. A generous amount of butter is melted in a large saucepan, and then flour is stirred into it to make a loose paste. After the flour has cooked in the hot butter, hot milk is whisked in. The starch from the cooked flour expands in the milk, creating a thick, creamy sauce. The starch binds the sauce, so that when the cheese is stirred in, the result is creamy and smooth, not stringy and curdled.

It is important to use pungent cheeses, such as sharp cheddar, mixed with a little Gruyère or pecorino Romano for extra bite, since the white sauce and pasta will absorb a lot of flavor. The type of cheese used will also affect the sauce’s texture: Sharp white cheddar produces the smoothest result; yellow and extra sharp cheddars can become grainy.

A good Italian brand of dried elbow macaroni will have the best consistency. Undercook your pasta so that it is the slightest bit crunchy (very al dente) in the center, then rinse it under cold water. This stops the cooking and washes off the excess starch. You might think that starch would be useful in further thickening the casserole, but it isn’t; as it bakes, that extra starch merely expands and lends a mealy texture to your sauce.

The pasta will finish cooking as it bakes. The sauce will bubble, seeping into the hollows of your macaroni. When the smell of butter and browning cheese makes your stomach growl, you’ll know the dish is ready to eat.



MACARONI AND CHEESE RECIPE



3
You can easily divide this recipe in half; use a
1 1/2-quart casserole dish if you do.

Serves 12
6 slices good-quality white bread, crusts removed, torn into 1/4- to 1/2-inch pieces
8 tablespoons (1 stick) 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 Gruyère or 1 1/4 cups (about 5 ounces) grated pecorino Romano
1 pound elbow macaroni

1. Heat the oven to 375°. Butter a 3-quart casserole dish; set aside. Place bread pieces in a medium bowl. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons butter. Pour butter into the bowl with bread, and toss. Set the breadcrumbs aside. 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.


RECIPE (CONTINUED)



4
3. Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in salt, nutmeg, black pepper, cayenne pepper, 3 cups cheddar, and 1 1/2 cups Gruyère 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 Gruyère or 1/4 cup pecorino Romano; scatter breadcrumbs over the top. Bake until browned on top, about 30 minutes. Transfer dish to a wire rack to cool for 5 minutes; serve.