Indulge In {Cajun Mac N' Cheese}

I've been a Mac n' cheese fan ever since I was a child. What's not to love when you combine pasta and melted cheeses? My favorite is a recipe of my mom's that combines a rue with white wine and loads of cheese to make a decadent cheese sauce poured over penne and baked till bubbly. However, every once in awhile I like to mix it up. For the beer tasting I showed you yesterday, I made an out of this world Cajun mac n' cheese with creole seasoning, andouille sausage, and chicken. It's a great recipe to mix up the traditional and add a bit of flavor. Not to mention, it was a huge hit at the party! It can either be baked in individual ramekins  or in a large casserole dish family style. Whichever way you serve it up, your guests will be sure to thank you. Here's the recipe!

:: Ingredients ::

1 Box Penne Pasta

3 Cups Milk

4 Tablespoon Butter

4 Tablespoon Flour

16 oz Shredded Sharp Cheddar

1 Tablespoon Cajun Seasoning Blend

1/2 Cup Bell Pepper, diced

1/2 Cup Onion, diced

1 Tablespoon Garlic, minced

1 Tablespoon Cooking Oil

1 Can Diced Tomatoes, strained

1.5 Cups Andouille Sausage, sliced

1.5 Cups Chicken, cubed

1/2 Cup Shredded Sharp Cheddar for Topping

:: Directions ::

1. Cook pasta according to box directions. Strain and set aside.

2. In a medium pan, sautee bell pepper, onion and garlic in oil until onion is translucent. Set aside.

3. In a medium pot, melt the butter. Stir in flour and whisk until smooth paste forms. Add milk and whisk continually until it reaches a low boil and thickens. Mix in cheese and stir till melted. Add cajun seasoning. 

4. In a large bowl, combine pasta, pepper mixture, cheese sauce, 1 cup sausage, and 1 cup chicken. 

5. Pour into a greased casserole dish and top with remaining sausage, chicken, and shredded cheese.

6. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes or until sides are bubbly. 

Have a spicy Thursday!

Indulge In {White Wine Mac N' Cheese}

I'm going to let my inner food-a-holic show through in this post probably more than I ever have. I try so hard everyday to make sure I resist the urge to stuff my face with all the bad things I want, like cake. But the hardest thing to avoid is mac n' cheese. I must admit that I often find myself staring at pictures of different mac n' cheeses online wishing I could eat them all. While I'm good most of the time, I jumped this past weekend as the chance to make up a big pan during the football games. Instead of researching new flavors to try, I immediately picked a favorite recipe I got from my mom and kicked it up a bit. With a touch of white wine, extra sharp white cheddar, and swiss gruyere, this mac n' cheese is decadent and subtly full of flavor. Here's the recipe...

:: Ingredients ::
1 Box Penne Pasta
3 Tbls Butter
3 Tbls Flour
1 3/4 C Milk
1/2 C White Wine
3/4 C Shredded Sharp White Cheddar
3/4 C Shredded Swiss Gruyere
Paprika
Salt & Pepper to Taste

:: Directions ::
1. Cook penne according to box directions. Drain and set aside.
2. Melt butter in a large pan over medium high heat. Add flour and stir still smooth forming a rue.
3. Slowly add milk and wine to rue. Stir till thick and bubbling, approximately 3-5 minutes.
4. Remove from heat. Add cheese, salt & pepper and stir till melted.
5. Mix penne into cheese sauce. Pour into a greased baking pan and sprinkle with paprika.
6. Bake at 350 degrees covered for 15 minutes. Uncover and bake for 15 more minutes. Serve and enjoy!

*Image courtesy of Living With Punks