comfort food essentials: creamy mac & cheese

How To Make comfort food essentials: creamy mac & cheese

• 
  Step 1
  PREP/PREPARE
• 
  Step 2
  Gather your Ingredients (mise en place)
• 
  Step 3
  Add the milk to a saucepan, over medium heat.
• 
  Step 4
  When the milk begins to steam, add the pasta.
• 
  Step 5
  Bring up to a light simmer, and allow to cook until the pasta is al dente.
• 
  Step 6
  Chef’s Note: You should still have about 1/2 cup of milk in the pot that has not been absorbed by the pasta.
• 
  Step 7
  Place a rack in the middle position, and preheat the oven to 350 (175c).
• 
  Step 8
  As the pasta is cooking, add the butter to a saucepan over medium heat.
• 
  Step 9
  After the butter melts, and the foaming subsides, add the cheese, white pepper, cayenne, and nutmeg.
• 
  Step 10
  Reduce heat to medium low, and stir until the cheese is fully melted.
• 
  Step 11
  Chef’s Note: Don’t forget to taste for proper seasoning.
• 
  Step 12
  Add the sauce to the cooked pasta.
• 
  Step 13
  Gently fold the pasta into the cheese sauce... YUM.
• 
  Step 14
  Chef’s Tip: If the sauce appears a bit too thick, add a bit more milk until you achieve the desired consistency.
• 
  Step 15
  Add the ingredients to an ovenproof dish.
• 
  Step 16
  Add the provolone cheese to the top.
• 
  Step 17
  Bake in the preheated oven until the cheese is bubbly and begins to brown in spots, about 15 – 18 minutes.
• 
  Step 18
  PLATE/PRESENT
• 
  Step 19
  Serve on the side with your favorite foods, or be decadent, fill a bowl, and tuck in. Enjoy.
• 
  Step 20
  Keep the faith, and keep cooking.
• 
  Step 21
  OPTIONAL ITEMS
• 
  Step 22
  Take a quarter cup of panko breadcrumbs, and toast them in a hot pan with two tablespoons of butter, until they brown. When the mac & cheese comes out of the oven, sprinkle them on top before serving.
• 
  Step 23
  Adding a sprinkle of smoked paprika creates a nice visual appearance, and adds another level of flavor.
• 
  Step 24
  Reheating Tip: If you have leftovers, and want to reheat them the next day, put them into a saucepan over medium-low heat, and as they begin to warm up, add some additional milk (a tablespoon at a time), until they are nice and creamy.
• 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!