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The chill of the season heralds many changes, including your appetite for heartier foods. This is the perfect time to break out the casserole dishes and
whip up your family’s favorite comfort foods. Americans seem to agree that when it comes to comfort classics, macaroni and cheese is what they crave.
In fact, according to mymacaroniandcheese.info, in any given 12-week period, approximately one-third of the population of the United States will eat
macaroni and cheese at least once, that’s almost 105 million people.
Mac and cheese is always in style and has inspired countless websites, books and even a song or two. The beauty of this menu standard is how easy it is to
dress up or down – depending on your culinary preference (or ingredients you have handy). In fact, Laura Werlin, cheese expert and James Beard
award-winning author, offers up 50 ways to customize mac and cheese in her new cookbook, “Mac & Cheese, Please!”
“Throughout the years, macaroni and cheese has been a staple at dinner tables,” says Werlin. “Being from California, I love that California’s cow’s milk
cheesemakers make over 250 styles of California cheeses. This variety leads to endless possibilities and opportunities for creating unique, memorable and
delicious renditions.”
All you need to make your own memorable rendition is the California Milk Advisory Board’s (CMAB) recipe for “Mac and Cheese Three-Ways” – one recipe that
can be made into a main dish for dinner, appetizers for a party or soup for a warm lunch. With California sharp Cheddar cheese and smoked Mozzarella along
with sun-dried tomatoes and crunchy panko bread crumbs, this recipe is a triple-play to add to your recipe repertoire. Add in chopped cooked bacon or
grilled chicken for a heartier version.
Make sure to look for the Real California Milk and Cheese seals to guarantee you’re getting products made with 100 percent California milk from
California’s more than 1,500 dairy families. For more recipes and entertaining ideas, visit RealCaliforniaMilk.com, like RCM at Facebook.com/RealCalifMilk
or follow at Twitter.com/RealCalifMilk, Pinterest at Pinterest.com/RealCalifMilk and Instagram at Instagram.com/RealCalifMilk.
California Smokey Mac And Cheese Three Ways
Smoked Mozzarella cheese and sun-dried tomatoes take macaroni and cheese to a whole new level. Serve as is, or turn this recipe into soup or a bite-sized
appetizer.
3 1/2 tablespoons California butter, divided
2 tablespoons flour
1 1/3 cups California milk
1 teaspoon spicy brown mustard
3/4 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1 1/4 cups shredded sharp California Cheddar cheese, divided
3/4 cup shredded smoked California Mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup white or wheat small elbow macaroni, cooked according to package directions and well drained
1/4 cup minced smoked sun-dried tomatoes
Freshly ground pepper to taste
3 tablespoons panko bread crumbs
Directions: Preheat oven to 400 F and lightly butter four individual baking dishes with 1/2 tablespoon butter. Melt remaining butter over medium heat in a
large saucepan. Add flour and cook for two minutes stirring constantly. Whisk in milk and bring to a simmer, stirring frequently; stir in mustard, salt and
basil. Add one cup Cheddar cheese and the Mozzarella cheese a little at a time, cooking and stirring until melted; stir in cooked macaroni and tomatoes and
cook for 5 minutes more. Pour into prepared dishes. Stir together bread crumbs and remaining cheese and sprinkle over top. Cook for 10 minutes or lightly
browned and bubbly on top.
Makes four servings
Small Bite Appetizer Mac and Cheese Cup Variation:
Press 24 wonton wrappers into 24 lightly greased mini muffin cups, pressing firmly so that the cups are flat on the bottom. Spoon macaroni mixture into
wonton cups. Sprinkle with breadcrumb mixture and bake for 10 minutes, tenting with foil after five minutes.
Makes eight appetizer servings
Mac and Cheese Soup Variation:
Melt one tablespoon butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add 1/2 cup each: 1/4-inch diced onion, celery and carrots and cook for 10 minutes. Add
two cups vegetable or chicken broth and cook for 10 minutes more. Stir into prepared macaroni and cheese and cook until very hot. Sprinkle each serving
with breadcrumb mixture, if desired.
Makes four servings
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