Mac-N-Cheese Supper Take two.

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gmc2003

Epic Pitmaster
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Sep 15, 2012
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Well it's been about six months since my last mac-n-cheese supper posting. So I figured it was time for another go at it. Besides, with us(mostly my wife) babysitting the grandson and his love for cheese. I knew this would be a hit.

Let's get the party started.

Ingredients:
16oz box of mini shells(cooked to al dente)
1lb of block Cabot Cheddar
8oz. block Cabot Monterey Jack
Leftover block of Parmesan
1 Stick of butter
1/2 cup of A/P flour
4 Cups of whole milk(heated)
1.5 cups of half-n-half(heated)
9 strips of thick cut bacon
1 package of Johnsonville Beef Brats
1 ham steak
A couple twists of black pepper

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Start off by frying up the bacon:
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Next up is grating the cheese. Use block cheese. The pre-shredded stuff has a coating on it to help prevent clumping.
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Cook the ham and brats in the bacon grease and slice them up into mouth sized pieces.

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Put one stick of butter in a larger pot and melt it on low heat. Add the flour stir until it's well blended and you've got your roux started.
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Stir the milk and half-n-half into the roux and mix well until it thickens. Add cheese and continue stirring. Then comes the pasta. Again stir the mixture until the pasta is well coated. Finally add the meats and stir some more until it's well distributed. Reserve some cheese for the top of the Mac-n-cheese.

Bacon first. Sorry for the fuzzy picture.
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Then the ham and brats:
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Spread the mixture evenly into an appropriate sized casserole dish and top with the remaining cheese.
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Bake at 375* until you start seeing it bubble and the top starts to brown.
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Finally the money shot:
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Well that's all folks. Thanks for hanging with me.


Chris
 
Last edited:
Thanks Chris. It's a meal unto itself. One bowl and I was full.

Chris
 
Looks really good! Question: how much pasta and is it boiled first?
Appreciate it Justin. 16oz box of mini shells, and they're boiled to al dente. Thanks I forgot that part.

Chris
 
Absolutely loaded.
I've never tried beef in the mac-n-cheese. Can you describe what it adds?
Hmm, maybe some smoked chuck ... thinking about it.

Don't make much anymore after the kids flew the nest and no grandkids yet.
My kids like it smoked in the kettle or pellet pooper.
 
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That is great Chris. Everything in the world is right with meat loaded Mac-N-Cheese. I’d be up to my elbows in that meal. Nice work Sir.
 
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Sign me up Chris!! That looks fantastic buddy. No way could you keep me away from a massive helping of that. Nice job sir...and let's face it, what's not to love about all the goodies in there?

Robert
 
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Heck YEAH, Chris!! I've done it with ham, bacon, and smoked sausage, but never all 3 at the same time...me likes that idea!
Well it's been about six months since my last mac-n-cheese supper posting. So I figured it was time for another go at it. Besides, with us(mostly my wife) babysitting the grandson and his love for cheese. I knew this would be a hit.
And what kid doesn't love mac-n-cheese? It ought to be a food group all by itself... :emoji_laughing:
 
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