The Emily Post

Mac and Cheese

2010-10-04T11:29:00.000-07:00

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

Nana's stems

2009-09-01T08:29:00.001-07:00

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.

our new place

2009-08-31T14:30:00.001-07:00

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!

early to rise

2009-08-10T15:56:00.001-07:00

morning light, originally uploaded by emmy ray.

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

Anniversary flowers

2009-08-09T09:37:00.000-07:00

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

3 years ago

2009-08-06T19:34:00.001-07:00

self portrait, originally uploaded by emmy ray.

It is our anniversary today!

Izzy

2009-08-06T19:23:00.001-07:00

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.

Our upcoming trip

2009-05-25T08:38:00.001-07:00

P10100780013, originally uploaded by emmy ray.

We are both so excited to head east to see our families and friends!

My pillows are here!

2009-04-02T13:56:00.001-07:00

pillows, originally uploaded by emmy ray.

I recently had ten pillows made using vintage feed sacks and designer fabrics, which just came back from the seamstress!

The small order of onion rings

2009-03-22T17:22:00.001-07:00

The small order of onion rings with a Sequoia burger, originally uploaded by emmy ray.

We are in love with Sequoia Drive In, on Highway 116 south of Sebastopol.

Friday night fun

2009-03-21T19:59:00.001-07:00

Troy's bonfire, originally uploaded by Emily Lynch vintage.

Last night we went to Troy's for a big bonfire.

What is it about fire that captivates for hours?

We talked and listened to frogs and coyotes. It was one of those perfect evenings.

Good luck, Heids!

2009-03-21T13:12:00.001-07:00

Heidi, originally uploaded by Emily Lynch vintage.

Heidi is, at this very moment, in a moving van on her way from NYC to Toronto.

We wish you the best of luck, my dear, and cannot wait to come and visit!

The cabin where we live

2009-03-20T18:44:00.001-07:00

My Great Grandmother lived here until she was in her nineties. Our whole family gathered here twice a year to celebrate Easter and Thanksgiving. I have fond memories of Easter Egg hunts in the woods.