Monday, January 7, 2013

Smoked Gouda Macaroni and Cheese

Smoked Gouda Macaroni and Cheese

I avoid making macaroni and cheese because Brian and I both really love it and we have a tendency to be a little challenged in the will-power department. That only applies to certain foods, though. We're tough as nails around, oh, say, lettuce. So what happens is that I make a baking dish full of something yummy and we tell each other that it's a treat that needs to be eaten sparingly and we'll save the rest for the next day. Please tell me if any of you have ever been successful at that particular plan because we're clearly still working out the bugs. So the result of being will-power challenged is that we tend to stay mac & cheese deprived.

Smoked Gouda Macaroni and Cheese
But recently I happened upon these two adorable little baking dishes and tried to think of what I would make in them. Aha! Portion controlled mac & cheese. No ordinary mac, though. Last summer we stumbled into a cute place on the south shore and dined on smoked gouda mac & cheese. It was a first for us and I knew I had to recreate it. My friend Susan from The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen posted her version not long ago but she included kale and cheddar. Although I love those ingredients, I wanted a purer version of that wonderful smoked gouda taste. My version is creamy and crunchy and completely addictive. And, for the sake of our new year's resolutions, it's a good thing it was portion controlled. Enjoy!

Ingredients
1/2 lb. Elbow macaroni, cooked and drained
2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
2 Tablespoons all purpose flour
2 Cups milk
1/2 lb. Smoked gouda, grated
2 Tablespoons seasoned panko breadcrumbs
1 Teaspoon olive oil
Salt & pepper to taste

Smoked Gouda Macaroni and Cheese
In a large pan, make the sauce by melting the butter and adding the flour. Whisk together to combine. Add the milk and continue whisking, on medium low heat, until the mixture begins to thicken (about 10 minutes). Whisk in the cheese until fully incorporated and season to taste. Add the cooked pasta to the pan and stir to combine. You can bake it in the pan, if it's oven proof, or pour the pasta into individual baking dishes.

In a small bowl, combine the breadcrumbs and olive oil and mix together with a spoon or your fingers. Sprinkle over the pasta and bake in a pre-heated 400 degree oven for 15 - 20 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Makes 2 servings.

31 comments:

  1. I made mac and cheese too. Love your little dishes!

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  2. Ooooooooooh this mac n cheese looks SO good. Yeah...Michael and I have 0 willpower. He doesn't even want it. He's all like "I can eat and eat and eat and remain skinny so I'm just going to eat everything in sight and make you super jealous, ok?"

    Sorry about that. Mac n cheese=good. Yes.

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  3. Love those little dishes! Of course you had to make mac and cheese then... wasn't your fault :) The gouda sounds fabulous!

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  4. Oh..I hear ya about will power and mac n cheese! We have a similar problem here :)
    The little dishes are adorable and the mac n cheese looks amazing Anita!

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  5. I adore macaroni and cheese too. In fact, I think we'll be making this tonight for dinner. I love the yellow dishes. Perfect for portion-control!

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  6. Eat a little and save the rest for the next day. Oh yea right. HA HA HA HA HA. It doesn't work in my home either. Love those little dishes too. It "might" help with the restraint here. Might.

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  7. Oh this looks so incredible! Mac N Cheese was the first solid food I ever ate (so I'm told), it was the first for my daughter, and as he JUST got his first tooth and LOVES the baby version of macaroni and cheese - it will be Rocket's as well. Ah....family tradition. I think I need to make this and practice for when he's ready because I love Gouda cheese!!

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  8. I could never "sparingly" eat this!

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  9. This is the perfect way to indulge - without over-indulging!

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  10. Oh my worrrrddd! I can't make Mac N Cheese in our house too often for the same reasons. It is usually an entire large baking dish full and we only leave a small scoop just to feel like we didn't eat it all!

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  11. Love those baking dishes!! And this mac n cheese!!!

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  12. I have the same worries about eating a whole batch of mac and cheese in one setting! Maybe your individual servings would help...and a good excuse to get those beautiful baking dishes!!! This looks like one amazing recipe.

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  13. Holy shmokes!! What a great idea!!! I wish I had a huge bowl right now, I bet it tasted sensational!

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  14. O.K., so I totally clicked on the link to get here thinking, "What am I doing? This is definitely NOT allowed for me in January when I'm trying a bit to be healthy!" But how lucky that it actually just might work out! Portion-controlled mac n cheese is brilliant. I guess I just have to make sure that I don't make (and theneat!) too many portions!

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  15. Yum this looks amazing! Your blog is so cute.

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  16. I'm weak willed around fries :) There's just something about them that makes it hard to stop eating, although thankfully I hate leftover fries. Delicious looking mac, I love smoked gouda.

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  17. I'm with you!! Frankly, I think I could simply live on mac and cheese. We have a new restaurant that I just found that actually has a mac n cheese menu!! I don't know if I dare.
    I have to say I haven't really had much success making it at home though. But, that being said, I'm sort of scared to try because if I find it easy enough I'll never stop making it! This one looks fabulous!

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  18. I avoid making it too for the exact same reason! This recipe looks too good not to try though & I love those baking dishes!!

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  19. Oh my, I need this in my life. I adore smoked Gouda. And, I lack will power, too.

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  20. I saw this on Foodie Friends Friday, and had to come over to get a closer look!! I have been wanting a recipe for mac and cheese that uses smoked cheese!! Thanks!

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  21. I love mac and cheese and will even eat it cold. Thanks for sharing on Foodie Friends Friday and remember to come back and vote on Sunday.

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  22. YUM! Sounds great! Thanks for sharing on Foodie Friends Friday!

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  23. I love your little yellow dishes!! I don't think I have ever had Gouda cheese, but this sure sounds yummy.

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  24. That looks delicious! I love your yellow baking dishes too! I have never cooked with gouda, but I might need to now.

    I would love for you to share this recipe at our blog hop: http://sneakyspoons.blogspot.com/2013/01/frugal-crafty-home-blog-hop_13.html

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  25. Looks so delicious! I'm gonna try it this weekend. Thanks for sharing :)

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  26. We made this for Thanksgiving and it was delicious! We used Robusto gouda and also added bacon. Super easy and tasty!

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