ben's fancy mac n cheese

How To Make ben's fancy mac n cheese

• Step 1
  Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add pasta, and stir. Cook until about half done, and drain.
• Step 2
  While pasta cooks, mix softened cream cheese and butter in an extra large bowl until smooth. Mix in cream soups, sour cream, milk, and seasonings. hint: mix dry seasonings together before adding. This will break up the dry mustard which tends to clump.
• Step 3
  incorporate grated cheese and chosen optional mix-ins.
• Step 4
  Fold all of the half-cooked pasta into cheese mixture, along with enough liquid to keep mixture loose. You should be able to pour it smoothly into your baking dish. (Although it shouldn't be too runny, either. You should only have to smooth it out a little into the corners of your pan.)
• Step 5
  Bake at 400 degrees F for about 30 mins, or until hot and bubbly. Remove from oven and sprinkle with panko. Return to oven and broil 5 mins or less, until golden. Keep a close eye to prevent burning.
• Step 6
  Suggested optional mix-ins: add a can of cut green beans or other favorite veggies, including juice and omitting additional liquid. Add chopped cooked meat, such as chicken, pepperoni, or ham. Add chopped fresh spinach or steamed broccoli. Add sauted onions and peppers. Substitute different seasonings. Add green chiles or jalapenos.
• Last Step: Don't forget to share! Post a picture of your finished recipe here and on your favorite social network. Don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes!