"Mrs. Kostyra's Mac and Cheese" has become a legendary dish that has been passed down through generations, captivating taste buds with its creamy, cheesy, and comforting goodness. Its origins can be traced back to a small town in Pennsylvania, where Mrs. Kostyra, a talented cook, shared her culinary creation with friends and family. The recipe quickly gained popularity for its perfect balance of flavors and textures. Now, let's embark on a culinary journey to find the best version of this iconic dish, exploring various interpretations and techniques that elevate it to greatness.
Here are our top 7 tried and tested recipes!
MRS. KOSTYRA'S MAC AND CHEESE
Martha was fond of her grandmother's unusual mac n' cheese, which included tomato soup and sour cream. In this version, Martha and her mom give it a more traditional spin.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Pasta and Grains
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter a 2 1/2-quart casserole dish; set aside.
- Warm the milk and tomato paste in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Whisk in the salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, cheddar cheese, and 1/2 cup Swiss cheese; set the cheese sauce aside.
- Cover a large pot of salted water, and bring to a boil. Cook until pasta is al dente, about 7 minutes. Drain well in a colander. Stir macaroni into reserved cheese sauce.
- Pour mixture into prepared dish. Top with remaining 1/2 cup Swiss cheese, and dot with butter. Bake until golden brown and bubbling, about 45 minutes. Serve hot with sour cream, if desired.
CORY'S FAMOUS MAC AND CHEESE
Provided by Food Network
Categories side-dish
Time 1h30m
Yield 8 to 10 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
- Melt the butter in a cast-iron skillet set over low heat¿it is very important that this step be on low heat! Add the cubed cheddar and melt until creamy, stirring constantly. Stir in the egg, taking care not to let it scramble.
- While the cheese is melting, add the olive oil and salt to the pot of boiling water. Add the pasta; cook for 10 minutes. Strain and return the pasta to the pot.
- Add the melted cheese and egg mixture to the cooked pasta, along with the cream of mushroom soup, the evaporated milk and the sour cream; stir, then add half of the cracker crumbs. Mix together until the pasta is well coated and the sauce comes together.
- Add half of the pasta mixture to a 9-by-13-inch baking dish and top with half of the shredded cheddar. Add the remaining half of the pasta, followed by the remaining shredded cheddar. Sprinkle the remaining cracker crumbs over the top. Bake for 40 minutes.
MRS. KOSTYRA'S MEATLOAF
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Breakfast & Brunch Recipes Bread Recipes
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Heat oven to 375 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper, then fit the sheet with a wire rack. Brush an 10-by-4 3/4-by-3-inch loaf pan with oil, and place on rack; set aside. Place bread in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade; pulse until fine crumbs form. Transfer to a medium bowl, and add ground beef.
- Place onion, garlic, celery, carrots, and parsley in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade; pulse until fine. Add to meat mixture, using hands to mix well. Add egg, 1/2 cup ketchup, 2 teaspoons dry mustard, salt, and pepper; use hands to combine thoroughly. Transfer to prepared loaf pan.
- Combine remaining 1/2 cup ketchup, remaining teaspoon dry mustard, and brown sugar in a bowl; stir until smooth.
- Brush mixture over meatloaf; place pan in oven, atop prepared wire rack set on parchment-lined baking sheet. Cook until a meat thermometer inserted in the center reads 160 degrees, about 90 minutes. If top gets too dark, cover with foil and continue baking.
SUPER DECADENT MAC AND CHEESE
Provided by Kardea Brown
Categories main-dish
Time 1h
Yield 8 to 10 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9- by 13-inch baking dish with butter.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the macaroni and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, about 7 minutes. Strain in a colander, run cold water over the pasta and set aside.
- Using the same pot the macaroni was cooked in, melt the 1/4 cup butter over medium heat, add the flour and whisk until smooth. While whisking constantly, slowly add the milk and then the cream. Bring to a simmer, add the cream cheese and the shredded Cheddar except for 1/2 cup and stir until melted. Stir in the granulated garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Remove the cheese sauce from the heat and stir in the macaroni. Season with salt and pepper.
- Whisk together the eggs and sour cream in a small bowl and then fold into the macaroni and cheese. Spread the mixture into the prepared baking dish, fold in the cubed Cheddar and top with the reserved 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar. Bake until the top just begins to brown, about 20 minutes. Loosely cover with foil and bake 10 to 15 minutes more.
MRS. B'S BEST EVER MACARONI AND CHEESE
This is a yummy homemade mac and cheese recipe from the former associate pastor's wife at the church I attend. There is never any left when she makes it.
Provided by lsustacy
Categories Cheese
Time 1h10m
Yield 10-12 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Cook elbow noodles until tender and drain.
- Beat eggs in a 9x13 baking dish that has been sprayed with Pam.
- Mix noodles with eggs in baking dish.
- Spread cheese over the top of noodles.
- Blend together with milk - one cup at a time, stirring well after each addition.
- Add salt and pepper to taste and stir again.
- Place butter pats on top of noodles and bake at 350 for about 50 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 412.8, Fat 26, SaturatedFat 15.7, Cholesterol 159.8, Sodium 397.4, Carbohydrate 23.9, Fiber 0.8, Sugar 0.8, Protein 20.6
COUNTRY CHEESECAKE
A recipe from Martha's mom, this rustic cheesecake is an Easter tradition in the Kostyra family. Instead of the usual cream cheese filling and graham cracker crust, it teams tangy farmer cheese and plump golden raisins with a piecrust-like pastry.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Dessert & Treats Recipes Cake Recipes
Time 3h15m
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Dough:Sift together flour, confectioners' sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Sift again. Transfer to the bowl of a food processor. Add butter; pulse until largest pieces are the size of peas. Add egg yolks and sour cream; pulse until dough just begins to come together. If dough is too dry, add ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, and pulse. Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface and knead until dough comes together. Form into a disk and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate until firm but pliable, at least 1 hour.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees with rack in center. Lightly butter a 10-inch round springform pan. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough into a 15-inch circle, about 1/8 inch thick. Fit dough into bottom and up side of pan. With a paring knife, trim dough to about 1/2 inch below the rim. Crimp edges with the tines of a fork. Freeze until firm, 10 minutes.
- Line dough with parchment. Fill with dried beans or pie weights; bake until crust is firm and dry, 18 to 20 minutes. Remove parchment and beans; let cool completely. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees.
- Filling:In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together eggs and egg white on medium speed until thick and pale, about 2 minutes. Gradually beat in granulated sugar to combine. Add farmer cheese, sour cream, lemon and orange zests, raisins, and vanilla; mix until fully combined. Transfer to cooled crust.
- Bake until set at edges but still slightly wobbly in center, 50 to 55 minutes (if cake is browning too quickly, tent edges of crust with foil). Transfer to wire rack; let cool completely. Refrigerate until cold, at least 8 hours; serve.
MRS. KOSTYRA'S BORSCHT
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Soups, Stews & Stocks Soup Recipes
Yield Makes about 8 cups
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place beets on a piece of parchment paper -- lined aluminum foil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Fold up edges of foil and parchment to enclose beets. Place on a small baking sheet, and bake until tender when pierced with the tip of a knife, about 1 hour. Let stand until cool enough to handle. Peel, and coarsely grate; set aside.
- Soak mushrooms in hot water for 30 minutes. Drain through a fine-mesh sieve, reserving liquid. Coarsely chop mushrooms; set aside.
- In a medium stockpot, combine stock, beets, mushrooms, mushroom liquid, celery leaves, parsley, garlic, sugar, a large pinch of salt, and a large pinch of pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook for 20 minutes.
- Add lemon juice or citric acid. Taste, and adjust for seasoning. In a small bowl, combine sour cream and flour, stirring until no lumps remain. Whisk in a ladleful of soup, then whisk the sour-cream mixture into the soup. Cook until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Stir in dill just before serving.
Tips:
- Use high-quality cheese. The type of cheese you use will make a big difference in the flavor of your mac and cheese. Use a good-quality cheddar cheese that is sharp and flavorful.
- Cook the pasta al dente. You don't want the pasta to be too soft or it will become mushy when you bake it.
- Make a roux. A roux is a mixture of butter and flour that is used to thicken the cheese sauce. A roux will help to prevent the cheese sauce from becoming too thin and runny.
- Use milk or cream. Milk or cream will help to make the cheese sauce smooth and creamy.
- Add some flavorings. You can add a variety of flavorings to your mac and cheese, such as garlic, onion, cayenne pepper, or paprika.
- Top with breadcrumbs. A topping of breadcrumbs will give your mac and cheese a nice golden brown crust.
- Bake until bubbly. Bake the mac and cheese until it is bubbly and the cheese is melted and gooey.
Conclusion:
Mac and cheese is a classic comfort food that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a versatile dish that can be made with a variety of different ingredients. Whether you like your mac and cheese simple or loaded with toppings, there is a recipe out there for you. So next time you are looking for a quick and easy meal, give mac and cheese a try. You won't be disappointed!
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