A few nights ago, Chris’s four year old daughter, Carlee, came over to have dinner with us. She isn’t very picky when it comes to food (YAY!), but I still wanted to make one of her favorite dishes, macaroni and cheese with a few twists.


Hamburger Meat Cooking Directions:
1 lb hamburger meat
1 tbsp parsley
1 tsp minced garlic
generous amount of sea salt and cracked black pepper
In an oven-proof, non-stick pan, brown hamburger meat on medium high heat. I add all ingredients half-way thru the cooking process to ensure the meat has flavor. Once meat is browned, remove from skillet and let grease drain (I put a few paper towels on a plate to do this easily).
Wide Egg Noodles Cooking directions:
6 oz wide egg noodles
water
salt and pepper
olive oil
1 tbsp butter
1 tsp olive oil
1 tsp parsley
approximately 5 oz leftover, noodle stock water
Bring about 4-5 cups of water to boil (I never measure water when I am cooking noodles. I normally eyeball it and make sure the noodles will be completely covered). Add about 1 tbsp or so of olive oil and sea salt to water. Once the water is boiling, add the egg noodles and bring water to a rolling boil for about 5-6 minutes or until noodles are al dente. ***I added a cube of beef bullion with the noodles to enhance the flavor of the noodles.***
Strain noodles, but keep about a cup of the stock water.
Put the noodles in a small bowl and add the butter, 1 tsp olive oil, 1 tsp parsley, a little bit of stock water, and salt and pepper if desired.
Cheese Sauce and Final Cooking directions:
1 pt half and half
1/2 pt heavy cream
2 tbsp sour cream
1 tbsp butter
1/2 c mozzarella
1/2 C sharp cheddar
1/2 c Colby jack cheese
1/4 c parmesan
1 tsp minced garlic
**Bread crumbs
**Additional cheddar cheese
In the same pan we browned the hamburger meat in, we are going to make the cheese sauce for the macaroni.
First, add half and half, heavy cream, butter, garlic, and sour cream. Bring to a slow boil. Add noodles and hamburger meat. Mix together well while it is still on a low boil. Add each cheese separately (leaving parmesan for the top) and mix together until all cheeses are mixed in and melted.
Top the pasta with parmesan. If you choose to add breadcrumbs and more cheese, which I highly recommend, top the pasta with about 1/4 c of breadcrumbs and 1/4 C sharp cheddar.
Place in oven and heat for about 10 minutes or until golden brown. I cooked mine for about 10 minutes and then, set on broil to brown the top.

























