Friday, October 4, 2013

"Italian" Macaroni and Cheese


Thank you for the e-mails concerning my status and I can assure you I am alive and marginally well.  I did have my doubts though and was so concerned this morning when I drifted into consciousness I asked Hot Dog Dude if he could place a mirror in front of my mouth just to be sure.

He wasn't in the mood to humor me, like I was totally in the mood to humor him today when he requested I redo the same invoices I've done three times in a row now. Oh how far we fall some days.  Some days just call for comfort in the way of a hot cheesy, casserole.



Italian Macaroni and Cheese (For the record there is absolutely nothing Italian about this, but my cousin calls it that and I think that is sweet.)
1 pound dried rigatoni noodles
4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
6 cups milk
8 ounces cheddar cheese, cut in thin slices
Salt
Pepper
Pinch ground nutmeg

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Place a large pot of water on to boil and add a few teaspoons salt, once it's boiling vigorously add the rigatoni noodles.  Cook about 10 minutes or until al dente.

Place the butter in a medium saucepan and turn on medium heat and let the butter melt.  Add the flour and whisk until smooth, cook one minute and add the milk, a little salt, pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg.  Simmer on low heat until ready to assemble the casserole. 

Drain the noodles.  Spray a casserole dish about an 11" x 13" sized one with no-stick spray and place half of the noodles on the bottom.  Add half of the cheese slices over that, sprinkle with a little S&P and pour half of the milk mixture over that.  Add the other half of the noodles, other half of the cheese, and the rest of the milk.  

Bake for 40-45 minutes or until most of the liquid is absorbed and the tops of the noodles are getting brown and crispy.

Enjoy,

Gina



12 comments:

  1. The rigatoni make it Italian, Gina. Feel betta soon!

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    1. Thanks Katty Darling, I took a few extra Advil this evening and it's helping. It just better be fixed soon, what about all the Halloween goodies... I think you are right about the noodles. :)

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  2. UGH! Nothing worse that tooth issues - so painful! hang in there girl!

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  3. YIKES! From your description, I felt like I was there with in the Dentist chair. I hope that you are on the mend. If you need a recommendation for another dentist - let me know - mine is fabulous!!!! Speaking of fab, your mac and cheese is simply mouthwatering. Hope your weekend is good and the pain diminishes quickly!

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  4. Oh no! That sounds terrible. For what it's worth, we eat a TON of mac n' cheese at our house since it's one of two things Little Man is agreeing to eat for now (the other being, well, ice cream) and so I speak from experience when I say this mac n' cheese looks fantastic :)

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  5. Yikes, so sorry about your tooth ordeal. This mac and cheese, on the other hand, looks fantastic!

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  6. Ouch! I hope you feel better soon! Your mac and cheese looks super!

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  7. Thanks everyone finally woke up and only feel uncomfortable so I guess that means I should be all good soon although I think Halloween candy is out for awhile.
    -Gina-

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  8. Yeah...I have the same hate-hate relationship with the dentist. If not for the good drugs, he and I would break up :lol:! Hope you're feeling better soon...and love this pretty mac 'n cheese!!

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  9. Who doesn't hate their dentist? I think it's unAmerican not to. ;-) Poor you - dental miseries are awful. But this mac 'n cheese would certainly make me feel better (and hey, rigatoni is Italian, isn't it? So I can see how it got its name!). Good recipe, but reading your dental horror story has me reliving some of my own! ;-)

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  10. ugh teeth are way too painful, feel better soon!

    Cheers
    CCU

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  11. Oh, you poor thing. But you did make me giggle with your inner dialogue! Hope your tooth is allowing you to gobble up this gorgeous mac and cheese. xo

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