Sunday, September 18, 2011

Smoked Gouda Macaroni and Cheese

It’s amazing I’m blogging right now because I don’t feel that hot but I feel that I’ve been slacking so here I am, checking in. It’s been a busy weekend. On Friday morning I drove up to Maine. Yesterday afternoon I drove back down to Boston and today I have been doing homework and napping intermittently (and hopefully kicking whatever this is to the curb). All that doesn’t mean I have neglected eating, how ridiculous!

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I picked up this smoked Gouda at Trader Joe’s last weekend and have been trying to decide what I wanted to make with it. On a day like today, comfort food sounded ideal so I used it to make a quick and easy macaroni and cheese.

{Smoked Gouda Mac & Cheese}

serves 4

  • 8 oz. whole wheat shells (or any other short pasta of your choice)
  • 2 oz. smoked gouda (grated)
  • 1 T butter
  • 1-2 T ap flour
  • salt & pepper to taste
  • 1 shallot, chopped finely
  • 1 1/4 c plain, unsweetened almond milk (or cow’s milk)
  • couple dashes of garlic powder
  • 1/4 whole wheat panko crumbs

Pre-heat oven to 375. Spray baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Boil water for pasta. Cook pasta according to package directions.

While the pasta is cooking, begin your roux. Melt butter and add 1 T of ap flour. Slowly add in milk. If roux isn’t thickening, add in more flour up to 1 T. Season with salt and pepper. Add in garlic powder and chopped shallot. Remove from heat and whisk in grated cheese until melted.

Add pasta to baking dish. Pour cheese mixture over pasta and stir to ensure pasta is evenly coated. Sprinkle top with panko.

Cook in pre-heated oven for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool for a few minutes before serving.

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Though this is extremely filling, I am craving dessert. But I think I’ll abstain given how iffy I’ve been feeling today. I’m attempting to quell the urge right now by burning this new candle I picked up today.

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It smells delicious. Highly recommend. Pumpkin buttercream sounds like everything my dreams are made of. Alright, I’m back to the books.

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

17 comments:

  1. I need to find that candle that sounds like it will smell so delicious!

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  2. I bet this was delicious with the smoked gouda. Hope you feel better soon!

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  3. It was delicious... so creamy. Thank you :)

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  4. I picked it up at the Yankee Candle store at Derby Street Shoppes. I got a blueberry scone one too!

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  5. Teehee, that crumb-dusted pasta shell reminds me of one of those little shells that are used to make necklaces in America. Are they cowrie shells? I'd rather eat this than actual shells, though.

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  6. I hope you're feeling better soon! I've never tried gouda mac and cheese. Obviously, I'm doing life wrong.

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  7. Thank you - hopefully today is a day of recovery.

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  8. Thank you. And obviously you are. Except that would mean that up until last night I was doing life wrong.

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  9. Yum! Fall and mac and cheese go hand in hand to me for some reason, so this looks so good. Loved smoked cheese!

    Laura

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  10. This recipe sounds amaaaaazing. What a good crowd-pleaser. And a pumpkin butter cream candle? I have to purchase that for my room!

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  11. They definitely do - I highly recommend this one from TJ's. It was delicious and really inexpensive.

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  12. Gouda and pasta?! I'm not sure how anything could be more right AND why I never thought of this. Mmm. I'm craving mac & cheese like crazy now!

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  13. TJ's has the BEST selection of lowfat cheeses! Can't wait to try that gouda. I've really been craving mac and cheese lately and this sounds amazing!

    Hope you feel better soon girl!

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