Delicious New Recipe to Try

I found this amazingly delicious looking recipe on a blog that I love to read! Check outhttp://designerbagsanddirtydiapers.blogspot.com/ - she is the cutest and fun momma. I love her recipes and honesty about being a mom and wife. I am going to try a cheat of this recipe below using Annie’s Shells & White Cheddar mac and cheese (http://www.annies.com/products/pastas/shells-white-cheddar).

 

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adapted via How Sweet It Is

 

Ingredients:

1 pound of cooked pasta, smaller noodles desired
6 slices of bacon, chopped
1 shallot, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 pound of brussels sprouts, stems removed and sliced/chopped
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons flour
2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup half and half
8 ounces fontina cheese, freshly grated
4 ounces white cheddar cheese, freshly grated
2 ounces parmesan cheese, freshly grated
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 cup panko bread crumbs
2 tablespoons fine breadcrumbs

 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Heat a large, 12-inch oven-safe skillet oven medium-low heat and add bacon. Cook until the fat is just rendered, then removed about 1/4 of the bacon and set it aside in a bowl. Cook the remaining bacon until completely crispy. Add in the shallot, garlic and brussels spouts, stirring well to coat. Cook until the brussels soften, about 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and toss the pasta in with the brussels.
To make the cheese sauce. heat a small saucepan over medium heat and add the butter. Once it's sizzling, whisk in the flour to create a roux and cook until it is golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes. Pour in the milk and the half and half, stirring the entire time and cook until it is slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the fontina, cheddar and parm, stirring until the cheese is melted. Stir in the nutmeg. Once the cheese is melted, pour it over the pasta in the skillet and toss well to coat. Add the panko and fine breadcrumbs over top of the pasta and sprinkle on the bacon that your set aside earlier.
Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the top is golden and bubbly.

 

Katy’s Cheat Recipe:

Ingredients:

1 pound of cooked pasta, smaller noodles desired
6 slices of bacon, chopped
1 shallot, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 pound of brussels sprouts, stems removed and sliced/chopped
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons flour
2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup half and half
8 ounces fontina cheese, freshly grated
4 ounces white cheddar cheese, freshly grated
2 ounces parmesan cheese, freshly grated
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Annie’s Shells & White Cheddar mac and cheese
1/4 cup panko bread crumbs
2 tablespoons fine breadcrumbs

 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Heat a large, 12-inch oven-safe skillet over medium-low heat and add bacon. Cook until the fat is just rendered, then remove about 1/4 of the bacon and set it aside in a bowl. Cook the remaining bacon until completely crispy. Add in garlic and brussels spouts, stirring well to coat. Cook until the brussels soften, about 5 minutes. Turn off the heat.

Make your mac and cheese according to box directions, pour it over the pasta in the skillet and toss well to coat.

Add the panko and fine breadcrumbs over top of the pasta and sprinkle on the bacon that your set aside earlier.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the top is golden and bubbly.