Fancy Baked Macaroni and Cheese

 

Macaroni and Cheese is a staple in our home. We eat macaroni and cheese at least once a week because it is one of my husbands favorite dishes and because in Dental School sometimes you need a pick me up.

 

 

This Fancy Baked Macaroni and Cheese is absolutely delicious because it is filled with wonderful cheesy flavors, fresh tomatoes and spinach, and crunchy homemade breadcrumbs. 

 

 

Homemade Breadcrumbs

2 pieces of mountain bread

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

¼ teaspoon garlic powder

1/8 teaspoon pepper

 

First, preheat oven to 400° and dice the 2 pieces of bread into little cubes.

 

Place the bread pieces in a bowl and toss with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, then mix in ¼ teaspoon garlic powder and 1/8 teaspoon pepper.

 

 

Place the bread on a baking sheet lined with foil and sprayed with oil. Bake for 3 minutes on the top rack, then flip the bread crumbs using a spatula and bake for another 3 minutes, or until golden brown on all sides.

 

Let cool until ready to serve.

 

 

Fancy Baked Macaroni and Cheese

2 cups dried pasta

1 large garlic clove

1 medium tomato

1 packed cup spinach

½ stick butter

3 tablespoons half and half

¼ cup of milk

¾ + ¼ cup monetary jack cheddar cheese

¼ cup havarti cheese

¼ cup grated parmesan

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon pepper

¼ cup blue cheese

1 dash dried basil

1 dash black pepper

1 dash salt – dependent on how much blue cheese you added on top – it can have a bit of a bite!

 

 

First, cook the pasta according the package instructions, but slightly undercook the pasta by about 3-4 minutes – the pasta will continue to cook in the oven later.

 

 

While the pasta is cooking, mince 1 large garlic, dice 1 medium tomato, and wash the spinach – I also made the spinach a bit smaller at my husbands request… I’m thinking he thought if they were smaller they might disappear altogether!

 

Once the pasta has cooked, drain the pasta – do not rinse it – and return the pasta to the pot onto the eye that was hot. Also, preheat the oven to 350°.

 

Next, melt in ½ stick of butter into the pasta. Then add 3 tablespoon of half and half and ¼ cup of milk.

 

 

Mix in ¾ cup of monetary jack cheddar cheese, ¼ cup havarti cheese, and ¼ cup grated parmesan.

 

Then blend in 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper.

 

Next, incorporate the tomatoes, spinach, and garlic and pour the pasta into a casserole dish – ours was about 10 by 7 inches.

 

 

Then sprinkle on the ¼ cup of monetary jack cheddar cheese, a little bit of blue cheese – we used about ¼ cup, and a dash of crushed basil, salt, and black pepper.

 

 

Bake the pasta for 15-20 minutes, and then broil it for about 3 minutes – but watch carefully so that it doesn’t burn.

 

 

Top with breadcrumbs and a sprinkle of freshly ground pepper!

 

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