Monday, October 4, 2010

Mac and Cheese

This is for you, BT!

SMOKEY MAC

Ingredients:

1 pound of bacon
1 stick of butter, cold
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons of whole wheat flour
1 tablespoon of Chipotle Tabasco
4 cups of milk
1 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/8 teaspoon Cayenne
1 pound elbow mac (I use whole wheat)
3 cups coarsely grated extra sharp cheddar ( I use more)
1 1/3 cups freshly and coarsely grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup fresh sourdough breadcrumbs
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

PREP EVERYTHING FIRST BECAUSE THERE IS NO TIME ONCE YOU START TO DO ANYTHING BUT WHISK!

1.) Cook bacon until very crispy, not at all chewy. Chop in food processor and set aside. Do not rinse processor bowl.

2.) Chop sourdough in food processor after bacon to grab all of "bacon dust" and flavor. Set aside.

3.) Grate cheddar and set aside.

4.) Grate parm and add to bread crumbs.

5.) Preheat oven to 350

6.) Melt 6 tsp butter in a saucepan on low heat. Add flour and cook roux, whisking constantly for about 3 mins.

7.) Slowly add milk in a continuous stream, whisking the while time. Raise heat and bring to a boil, whisking THE WHOLE TIME.

8.) Once it boils, add mustard, Cayenne and salt and pepper. Whisk, whisk, whisk until it thickens, about 2 mins. Cover and remove from heat.

9.) In a large pot of salted water, cook mac until just under done. Drain and return to pot.

10.) Add roux to pot of macaroni and stir. Then add bacon and stir. Then add most of the cheddar and stir. Then add chipotle to taste. Try not to eat all of the mac and cheese yet, though it is yummy already!

11.) Rub the rest of your stick of butter in your baking dish. I use shallow ones so I can have more crispy top. After dish is lubed, cut butter into small cubes.

12.) Spoon mac into dish, top with rest of cheddar, then breadcrumb / parm mixture. Tuck in butter cubes. Add salt and pepper and back for about 30 mins, until brown and bubbling.


VARIATIONS:

Blue cheese

smoked Gouda and mushroom

jack cheese and tomato

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Nana's stems


Nana's stems, originally uploaded by emmy ray.

Our new place has open shelves in the kitchen. I love having everything close at hand and for some reason it just feels friendlier this way. There are my maternal Great Great Grandmother Nana's stemmed cordial glasses in front of an antique "Private Bar" sin from my paternal Grandmother Isabel.

Monday, August 31, 2009

our new place


new place, originally uploaded by emmy ray.

We are so happy to live in downtown Petaluma, with so much to do in walking distance, including eating at Central Market and shopping at Chelsea!

Monday, August 10, 2009

early to rise


morning light, originally uploaded by emmy ray.

This morning the light on my desk was so beautiful, I had to snap a picture.

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Anniversary flowers




Matt bought me these beautiful flowers at the farmer's market!

Thursday, August 6, 2009

3 years ago


self portrait, originally uploaded by emmy ray.

It is our anniversary today!

Izzy


1942 news article, originally uploaded by emmy ray.

Not one day passes that I don't miss Grandma Isabel. She was one hell of a gal, no doubt.