This is Cherie's former go-to mac and cheese recipe, one that packs a real cheesy wallop.
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3-1/2 cups large elbow macaroni 10 oz. Velveeta cheese, cut into 1" squares 10 oz. white Vermont chedddar cheese, cut into 1" squares 15 oz. Gruyère cheese, shredded 1-2 cups of jack and cheddar cheese (conbined), shredded 4 oz cream cheese (at room temperature) 2/3 cup sour cream 1-1/3 cups heavy cream 1-1/3 cups half-and-half 1 egg |
2-2/3 Tbsp. flour 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce 1 tsp. garlic powder 1 tsp. onion powder 1 tsp. dry mustard powder 1/8-1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper 1/8 tsp. nutmeg (fresh if you have it) 1 tsp. kosher salt A pinch of paprika 1 Tbsp. fresh chives (for garnish) |
Smile. Know that you're about to prepare the best mac and cheese ever!
1. Grease a 13" x 9" nonstick metal baking pan with 1 Tbsp butter. Preheat oven to 350. Prepare macaroni according to the package directions, but make sure it's al dente. (Huh? It should still be a little firm.) Be sure to add a pinch of salt and a dash of olive oil to the boiling water while cooking. Drain pasta well and pour into the baking pan.
2. In a large mixing bowl, add the heavy cream, half-and-half, and sour cream; break the cream cheese into little bits with your (clean!) fingers as you add it to the bowl. Add the egg, flour, Worestershire sauce, garlic and onion powders, dry mustard, cayenne pepper, and nutmeg; combine very well with a wire whisk to break up that cream cheese. It will look lumpy, but that's okay.
3. Starting at the corners of the pasta dish, place and push down the Velveeta and white Vermont cheddar cubes. Work your way around and toward the middle (they won't push down completely, but just smoosh them down a bit). Now sprinkle the fabulous Gruyère cheese evenly over the top — gently and evenly pour that artery-clogging mixture on it, covering all areas. Gently shake the pan afterwards for a sec to make sure the liquid is even. I know it sounds gross, but push down and make little holes into areas of the mixture with your fingers. (You're just getting some of the Gruyère down deeper below the surface.) Wash your hands!
4. Sprinkle the jack-and-cheddar combo over the mixture and sprinkle the paprika on top. Put this baby in the oven (make sure your oven rack is right in the middle) and bake until brown and bubbly—about 1 hour.
Serves 10.