2008-04-28

Geoff's simple baked mac&cheese

Ingredients

1 box of "premium" macaroni and cheese (like Kraft Deluxe or Velveeta Shells and Cheese ... ie has a pack of soft cheese not powder)
2 small or 1 extra large egg
1/2 cup milk
1/2tsp Salt
1/2tsp Black Pepper
1 cup of shredded cheese (sharp cheddar, colbyjack, whatever sounds good)
Baking dish just large enough to hold cooked pasta
Optional: Handful of breadcrumbs (japanese panko works great as does anything else)

Preheat oven to 375
Prepare the pasta as per box instructions
While pasta is boiling whisk together milk, eggs, cheese packet from box, salt and pepper until cheese packet is well mixed
Put 1/2 of the cooked pasta in dish, pour 1/2 of cheese mixture from above over pasta
Spread 1/3 of the shredded cheese over dish
Remaining pasta and cheese mixture in dish
Evenly spread remaining shredded cheese over dish
Optional: Evenly sprinkle dish with handful of breadcrumbs
Optional: Dash of pepper to taste over dish
Bake in oven for 25-30 minutes, until cheese is beginning to brown and small air bubbles are rising around the edge
Let cool and set for 5-10 minutes

Use 1/2 Mozzarella or italian cheese blend along with oregano / italian spices on top
Rotini works well, especially flavored rotini
Double the amount of pasta and just add enough cheese to spread across the top