Guest blogger alert! Here’s Ken… When he starts watching too much football on Sundays, I can usually guilt him into cooking/doing a guest blog post during commercials. And his Jets are terrible so it’s not like he’s missing much. Enjoy:
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If there’s anything in the vicinity of unhealthy on this blog, it’s a safe bet that it’s coming from me. While I try to make an effort to combine healthy and, um, not-totally-girly, (see: Grilled Artichokes, Grilled Fruit, Grilled Romaine Salad, Lemon-Mint Pasta with Bacon, and a Guy’s Guide to Pregnancy), things like Beer Can Chicken are more up my alley. Without further ado…. heart stopping mac and cheese.
Ingredients:
- 4 cups of whole milk. Skim is for sissies.
- Stick o’ butter
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons of salt
- 1/3 to 1/4 pound of diced ham (thick cut)
- 1 pound of pasta (my choice: bow ties)
- 8 ounces, or about 3 cups of shredded cheddar cheese. Our choice: Cougar Gold.
- 1 cup of grated Romano cheese
- bread crumbs to top
![cheese](https://josiegirlblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Screen-Shot-2014-10-09-at-3.46.03-PM.png)
Cougar Gold cheese
![milk](https://josiegirlblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Screen-Shot-2014-10-09-at-3.46.14-PM.png)
Heat the milk until boiling. Remove from heat.
![budda](https://josiegirlblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Screen-Shot-2014-10-09-at-3.46.08-PM.png)
budda. melt it in a sauce pan.
![flour](https://josiegirlblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Screen-Shot-2014-10-09-at-3.46.20-PM.png)
Add the flour slowly and whisk constantly for about three minutes. I realize those look like hands from two different people… but I can promise they’re both mine.
![whisk](https://josiegirlblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Screen-Shot-2014-10-09-at-3.46.25-PM.png)
whisk.
![delicious](https://josiegirlblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Screen-Shot-2014-10-09-at-3.46.36-PM.png)
delicious (slightly browning). Remove from heat.
![pour](https://josiegirlblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Screen-Shot-2014-10-09-at-3.46.42-PM.png)
Get your milk. Turn medium-high heat back on, and slowly pour in the hot milk. Whisk more.
![more](https://josiegirlblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Screen-Shot-2014-10-09-at-3.46.48-PM.png)
Whisk and stir for about three minutes. Add salt to taste. Remove from heat.
Cook your pasta of choice. Drain and set aside. Not pictured (hopefully not necessary).
![cheese galore](https://josiegirlblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Screen-Shot-2014-10-09-at-3.46.52-PM.png)
Turning medium-high heat back on, add the cheddar and the romano. Stir.
Things got a little hectic here, and I may have forgotten to take pictures (yes, I was trying to do this while watching football). But add the cooked pasta and diced ham into the pan over heat.. Stir, and put in a baking dish.
![pre baking](https://josiegirlblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Screen-Shot-2014-10-09-at-3.46.58-PM.png)
pre baking
![panko](https://josiegirlblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Screen-Shot-2014-10-09-at-3.47.05-PM.png)
Add bread crumbs
![yum](https://josiegirlblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Screen-Shot-2014-10-09-at-3.47.10-PM.png)
yum
![oven](https://josiegirlblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Screen-Shot-2014-10-09-at-3.47.16-PM.png)
Bake at 375 for 30 minutes or until brown (initially with aluminum foil, remove for last 10 minutes).
![tada](https://josiegirlblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Screen-Shot-2014-10-09-at-3.47.20-PM.png)
tada
![holy crap](https://josiegirlblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Screen-Shot-2014-10-09-at-3.47.26-PM.png)
after demolition
Enjoy!
Looks amazing! I am a football widow too. Nice work!
I am from Washington and Cougar Gold is my favorite. That made my day!
I’m trying this ASAP!
To die for!!!!!!!!!!
This look delicious, yum yum yum!