Amanda Hesser's macaroni and cheese is a delectable dish that combines creamy and cheesy flavors with the perfect texture. In this article, we'll delve into the world of pasta and cheese, providing you with the ultimate guide to creating this culinary masterpiece. Whether you're a seasoned home cook or a beginner looking to impress your friends and family, this comprehensive guide will equip you with everything you need to know to make Amanda Hesser's macaroni and cheese. From the selection of the best ingredients to the step-by-step cooking process, we'll uncover the secrets to achieving the perfect balance of flavors and textures that make this dish so iconic.
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THE BEST MACARONI AND CHEESE
Amanda Hesser brought this recipe to The Times in a 1998 article about a return to simply-prepared, down-home foods in response to the brash, over-the-top 90's style of cooking. It's an adaptation of one found in Pam Anderson's book, "The Perfect Recipe," and it calls for stirring the mixture every five minutes while it is baking. This gives it the ideal balance of lightness and creaminess -- a detail that is missing from most macaroni and cheese recipes.
Provided by Amanda Hesser
Categories dinner, weekday, casseroles, editors' pick, pastas, main course
Time 1h
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place a 1 1/2-quart heat-proof dish, such as a souffle pan, in oven to warm.
- In a small baking pan, combine bread crumbs, a pinch of salt and the melted butter. Mix well and set aside.
- In a large pot, bring 8 cups of water to a boil. Add 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt and the macaroni. Cook until almost tender but still a little firm to the bite. Drain and transfer to preheated dish. Stir in remaining 4 tablespoons of butter.
- In a small bowl, combine eggs, 1 cup of the evaporated milk, the pepper sauce, 1/2 teaspoon salt, the black pepper and the mustard mixture. Mix well. Pour egg mixture over macaroni. Add 3/4 of the cheese, and stir until thoroughly combined and cheese starts to melt.
- Place dish of macaroni and cheese in the oven, and bake for 5 minutes. Remove dish from oven and add about half of the remaining evaporated milk, and half of the remaining cheese. Stir well, and return pan to oven. Bake 5 minutes longer, remove pan from oven, and stir thoroughly. If mixture does not look moist and creamy, add a little more of the milk and cheese. Return to oven for an additional 20 minutes, removing pan from oven halfway through to stir in remaining evaporated milk and cheese.
- While macaroni is baking, add pan of bread crumbs to oven. Bake until bread crumbs are toasted and golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside. When macaroni has baked, sprinkle surface with toasted bread crumbs, and serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 824, UnsaturatedFat 14 grams, Carbohydrate 72 grams, Fat 42 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 39 grams, SaturatedFat 23 grams, Sodium 829 milligrams, Sugar 12 grams, TransFat 1 gram
AMANDA HESSER'S MACARONI AND CHEESE
Make and share this Amanda Hesser's Macaroni and Cheese recipe from Food.com.
Provided by laurayelp
Categories Cheese
Time 45m
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350, and butter a casserole dish.
- In a saucepan, heat the two tablespoons butter until foamy. Sprinkle in the flour and whisk until it turns golden, then slowly pour in the milk, continuing to whisk.
- Bring to a simmer over medium heat and let it thicken.
- Stir in the cheese and remove from the heat (it should be a loose sauce). Fold in the macaroni, then add tomatoes by squeezing them between your fingers. The mixture should be loose like a thin batter; if it's gluey or thick, add a little milk or drained tomato juice.
- Pour into the casserole dish and spread breadcrumbs over the surface. Top with 1/4 cup cheese and ground pepper. Bake until browned on the top and bubbling, about 25 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 585, Fat 25.4, SaturatedFat 15, Cholesterol 70.1, Sodium 554.1, Carbohydrate 63.7, Fiber 3.8, Sugar 3.7, Protein 25.1
GRANDMOTHER'S MACARONI AND CHEESE
This is my grandmother's macaroni and cheese. It is best when cooked in a clay baking dish at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) for 1 hour.
Provided by LAURA67
Categories Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Time 1h
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
- Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until cooked through but firm to the bite, 8 minutes; drain.
- Stir macaroni, Cheddar cheese, milk, egg, mustard, hot pepper sauce, salt, and pepper together in a bowl; pour into a baking dish.
- Bake in the preheated oven until brown and thickened, about 45 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 309 calories, Carbohydrate 22.4 g, Cholesterol 94.2 mg, Fat 16.6 g, Fiber 1 g, Protein 17.1 g, SaturatedFat 9.9 g, Sodium 344.2 mg, Sugar 3 g
MACARONI AND CHEESE II
This a very cheesy recipe, and a good one at that!! Garnish with carrot flowers and fresh mint for an interesting presentation.
Provided by CORWYNN DARKHOLME
Categories Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling, salted water until al dente. Drain.
- In a large bowl, combine condensed soup, milk, mustard, and pepper. Stir in macaroni. Transfer mixture into a greased 2 quart casserole. Combine bread crumbs and melted butter or margarine in a cup. Sprinkle over macaroni mixture.
- Bake at 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) for 25 minutes, or until hot and bubbling.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 210.1 calories, Carbohydrate 24.9 g, Cholesterol 25.1 mg, Fat 9.2 g, Fiber 1.4 g, Protein 7.7 g, SaturatedFat 5.6 g, Sodium 623.4 mg, Sugar 3.5 g
MACARONI AND CHEESE
Provided by Amanda Hesser
Categories dinner, casseroles, main course
Time 40m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter a casserole dish. In a saucepan, heat the 2 tablespoons butter until foamy. Sprinkle in flour and whisk until it turns golden, then slowly pour in milk, continuing to whisk. Bring to a simmer and let thicken. Stir in the cheese. It should be a loose sauce. Fold in macaroni, then ham. Add tomatoes by squeezing them into small pieces. Taste and adjust seasoning. If mixture is too thick, add a little milk or drained tomato juice.
- Pour into the casserole dish. Sprinkle with bread crumbs and then about 1/4 cup cheese. Grind pepper over top. Bake until browned on top, about 25 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 676, UnsaturatedFat 11 grams, Carbohydrate 64 grams, Fat 30 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 36 grams, SaturatedFat 17 grams, Sodium 1445 milligrams, Sugar 9 grams, TransFat 0 grams
Tips:
- Use a combination of cheeses. This will give your macaroni and cheese a more complex flavor. A good starting point is to use a blend of cheddar, Gruyère, and Parmesan.
- Don't overcook the pasta. Al dente pasta is best for macaroni and cheese. It will hold its shape and won't become mushy.
- Make a roux. A roux is a mixture of butter and flour that is used to thicken the cheese sauce. It will help to prevent the sauce from becoming too thin or lumpy.
- Use whole milk. Whole milk will give your macaroni and cheese a richer flavor and creamier texture.
- Season the sauce to taste. Add salt, pepper, and other spices to taste. You can also add a pinch of cayenne pepper for a little heat.
- Top with breadcrumbs. Buttered breadcrumbs add a crispy topping to macaroni and cheese. You can also use crushed crackers or grated Parmesan cheese.
- Bake the macaroni and cheese until it is bubbly and golden brown. This will take about 25 minutes.
- Let the macaroni and cheese rest for a few minutes before serving. This will allow the sauce to set and the flavors to meld.
Conclusion:
Macaroni and cheese is a classic comfort food that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a versatile dish that can be customized to your own taste. Whether you like it cheesy, gooey, or crispy, there is a macaroni and cheese recipe out there for you. So next time you are looking for a quick and easy meal, give macaroni and cheese a try. You won't be disappointed.
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