The Baked and Fattening Mac and Cheese Recipe, Essay Example

The American classic known as mac and cheese has been around for some time. And, along with hotdogs and baseball, it is hard to find many items that rank higher on lists for America’s pastime. True to the American spirit, one of my favorite recipes for mac and cheese is one of the most expensive and fattening that you’ll find. If that doesn’t sound American, then we are in dire times. Without further ado, we proceed onward to prove Aristotle’s statement true, in whole being greater than the sum of its parts.

Ingredients and Substitutes

Our metaphysical process begins with that of ingredients. Note that there are some substitutions that are relevant, which will be mentioned along the way. While you may find some alternatives to your liking, it might be best to stick to these ingredients for your first baked mac and cheese dish, in this light at least.

For the basic building blocks of the dish, there are some choices. In the two-cup size, you are looking at a total of six bags of Kraft Cheese. Recommended is two sharp and four packs of 4-cheese with the mac and cheese on the front, though you could do a mixture (such as two each of sharp, medium, and the 4-cheese variety). Pick up two boxes of Mueller’s Noodles, medium size, and then head near the spaghetti isle for two jars of Ragu Cheese Sauce.

Next comes the delicacies of the baked mac and cheese dish. Start with a16-ounce jar of sour cream. Eight ounces of Velveeta cheese, three sticks of real (not the word “real”) butter, and two packs of Philadelphia cream cheese (this will be softened before adding to the pan) will be next on the list. Finally, to complete our ingredients, you’ll need two cups of half and half, as well as two cups of whole milk (for “soupiness” – a term you will come to love).

Process

As you might have noticed from your ingredient list, you may want to avoid any nutritionally-based mathematical problems. However, as you can see and smell once we progress through the baking process, it will be worth it. Just like a hotdog at the ballpark, a cheesesteak in Philadelphia, or a slice of pizza in Chicago, calories are sometimes irrelevant.

Pre-Baking

Begin the fireworks by boiling your noodles as described on the box. Once the noodles are cooked and drained, return them back to their home and add the goodies: your sour cream, two sticks of butter, softened cream cheese, Ragu cheese sauce, and a little bit of milk. Keep a couple of things in mind during this point. First, after adding to the pan, make sure the heat is on the lowest temperature possible. Also, following the addition of the Ragu cheese sauce, pour the milk in the bottle and shake in order to get all of the cheese down from the bottle – and then pour both bottles into the pan.

This can have a bit of an artistic flair. You will now be gently stirring, in order for the creation to become a creamy mixture of goodness. If it is too thick, simply add more milk. Like an undercooked pizza crust on your Chicago-style pizza, we absolutely do not want the mac and cheese to be thick – it will not turn out well. A tasty, soupy quality is ideal.

Once your soupy solution is ready to go, you can start pre-heating the oven. 350 or 400 degrees should be fine for the setting; you can be dangerous here per your normal standards of baking. Then you can transfer the mixture into a foil baking pan. Cut up one stick of butter and push the pieces of butter throughout the pan, prior to putting the pan in the oven. The magic is ready to begin.

Post-Baking

Your tasty mac and cheese will be ready once it starts bubbling, or approximately after one hour in the oven. Once this occurs, take the foil off the pan and then add – yes, more cheese. Two bags of sharp cheese go on top. Now broil until it is melted. You can broil until it reaches a little brown if you would like, or per your preferences.

After this, your work of art is complete. Note that you could easily put it in the fridge and bake the next day. The possibilities are endless, and these ideas could be great for easy preparation for a big event. Once you taste the end product, you’ll likely have some ideas how to perfect the dish even more. Of course, if that is possible.

Result and Rewards

The tangible result is found in one of the best mac and cheese recipes that you can find. Baked mac and cheese has a certain je ne sais quoi about it, easily surpassing mere mac-and-cheese-in-a-box items. With endless amounts of scrumptious, fattening cheeses, the result is simple: a tasty mac and cheese dish, and a hefty punch to your caloric intake and food budget.

Yet, it’s all worth it. Of the American delicacies that have been discussed, mac and cheese has a certain place. It is one of the most versatile dishes around. Kids love it as well as adults. It is perfect for a main dish, side dish, or a perfect dish at a picnic or pot luck. It transfers well and can be found in simple box form, or magical baked form as a result of careful, precise designing. Yes, you just experienced the latter.

Overall, this recipe is one of the tastiest mac and cheese recipes. Preparation is not all that difficult, and the result is a great dish that leaves room for personal touches. Let it be a staple dish for your family, or share the love to impress co-workers and bosses at the next work function. You won’t be disappointed.