Mac-n-Cheese Festival

[cigarman20]

We'll today there was M/C Festival in Richmond, VA.  I didn't make it but it got me thinking.... We have some amazing grill masters among us.  How about a Mac-n-Cheese Festival of our own. 

We could pick an upcoming weekend. Call it a fest and post our entrees here ( with recipes of course). No real awards as we can't sample but it might be fun.

Any takers? What weekend?


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[bbqking01]

I down....let me know.


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[Mr.CPHo]

I am down for a virtual cook. 

Although there's a National Mac-n-Cheese day, we already missed it on July 14th. 

[TXFlyGuy]

Brisket Mac 'n Cheese!

[cigarman20]

Great, how about the weekend of October 1st? We can just post our result on this thread and see where we end up!


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[bbqking01]

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[xring01]

My son makes a killer jalepeno mac n cheese...

[MoparProud]

Oooh interesting


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[cigarman20]

@hoosierkettle 's Chicken Experiment got me thinking of my underused paella pan for this Mac-n-Cheese cook...

My intent was to create a latke type crust to house the M&C.

In order to crisp the taters, I needed at least 450F on the grill. Weather and an insufficient amount of coal played havoc. I struggled to get 350F. After 45 minutes I ended up finishing in a 475F in the oven. 

Recipe-

Crust-
5 cups shredded potatoes (wrung dry)
1 cup grated onion (wrung dry)
2 egg whites
1tsp baking soda
Salt and pepper
5 slices of cooked and chopped bacon

Left over bacon drippings used to grease paella pan

Cheese sauce:

Brown Roux -
1 stick butter
1/2 cup flour

1 cup heavy cream
6 cups milk (more or less to reach desired consistency)
2 lbs shredded sharp cheddar
1/2 cup sauté jalapeños

2lbs pasta of choice (Al dente)

1 additional pound of shredded cheddar for the topping


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[HoosierKettle]

@hoosierkettle 's Chicken Experiment got me thinking of my underused paella pan for this Mac-n-Cheese cook...

My intent was to create a latke type crust to house the M&C.

In order to crisp the taters, I needed at least 450F on the grill. Weather and an insufficient amount of coal played havoc. I struggled to get 350F. After 45 minutes I ended up finishing in a 475F in the oven. 

Recipe-

Crust-
5 cups shredded potatoes (wrung dry)
1 cup grated onion (wrung dry)
2 egg whites
1tsp baking soda
Salt and pepper
5 slices of cooked and chopped bacon

Left over bacon drippings used to grease paella pan

Cheese sauce:

Brown Roux -
1 stick butter
1/2 cup flour

1 cup heavy cream
6 cups milk (more or less to reach desired consistency)
2 lbs shredded sharp cheddar
1/2 cup sauté jalapeños

2lbs pasta of choice (Al dente)

1 additional pound of shredded cheddar for the topping


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Wow, great idea. I'll have to try that one sometime.


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[bbqking01]

Mac n cheese
I did my version of Malcolm Reeds.
1 stick of butter
3/4 cup of flour
32 ounces of cheddar
3 tbsp hot sauce
Approx 3 cups of milk or heavy cream
2 tbsp Holy Voodoo
1 box of elbow noodles
1 cup of Mayo
1 cup sour cream
1 cup bacon bits
1 cup of bread crumbs
Make a roux with the butter and flour. Add the milk. Stir in the cheese. Reserve approx 12-16oz to the side, of the cheese. Once mixed well add hot sauce and Voodoo. While you are doing all of this boil your noodles until desired softness. Add noodles to mixtures. Mix well. Then add you sour cream and Mayo. Mix well. Once mixed top with remaining cheddar. Toast bacon bits and bread crumbs together once toasted spread over the top. Bake/grill on 300-350 for 45 minutes.
Side notes: you can add or subtract the spices. Hot sauce/voodoo. Using what you want. I prefer it to have the smoky flavor my pellet grill gives it. Another note. I also prefer the "moistness" of the milk. The heavy cream gets pretty thick after stirring and only calls for 2 cups. I use precooked real bacon bits from Costco. One last note, I do all this in my big cast iron skillet. All except the noodle boiling.
I use medium heat until I add the noodles then Down to low until topped with bacon bread crumbs
Another side note, I have discovered that 4-5 cups of milk is just right for moistness.
In the pics there are three separate cooks,one of the I tried without the bread crumbs....we prefer it with the bread crumbs.


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[ASpitzer]

This sounds really good. I am going to have to give it a go sometime. I like the idea of the bacon bits on top and a little moister sauce.

[rich]

Looking good guys!
I honestly have not looked further than the instructions on the box of Kraft Deluxe or the Crate&Barrel.
I'll be happy to post if I come up with something worthy.
Thanks for sharing!!

[cigarman20]

LOL, yes my kids prefer the box!! 


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[TXFlyGuy]

One word...Velveeta.