Mac'n Cheese-Big Business

Mac'n Cheese is a big business. Besides being the ultimate comfort food there is also Internet shopping. The range of items to choose from is quite amazing; ties, shirts, pins, stickers, stationary, buttons, magnets, valentines and the list just goes on and on.  

Here's a Mac'n Cheese option that will appeal to the grown-ups

Baked Mac'n Cheese with Kielbasa

recipe adapted from cuisineathome.com February 2012

Cook's notes: This is hearty comfort food with German inspiration.  There are several options to this casserole; type of cheeses, noodles and sausage

Parts of the recipe can be made day before and refrigerate till ready to use:

Cook the sausage, slice into small pieces

Mix bread crumb topping mixture and place in a zip lock bag  

Ingredients:

Rye Bread Crumb Topping

Mix in a Cuisinart and set aside

• 1-1/2 cups fresh rye bread crumbs 
• 2 TB. dried parsley flakes 
• 2 TB. melted butter

________________________________________

• 8 oz. Sausage (I used Kielbasa) but there are other types that work just as well
• 8 oz. dried cavatappi or elbow pasta
• 2 TB. butter
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1 TB. caraway seeds
• 1/3 cup flour
• 2-1/2 cups milk
• 1 cup Gouda cheese shredded
• 1 cup Appenzeller, Gruyere. or Emmental cheese
• 1 TB. Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tsp. Dijon mustard

Directions:

• Grease a 2 qt. dish
• Cook pasta in salted water but only till al dente rinse and set aside 
• Brown sausage, drain and set aside
• Melt butter in saucepan with minced onion and caraway seeds 
• Cook about 3 minutes with a wooden spoon to stir
• Whisk in flour to coat seeds and onions, whisk in milk and cook till slightly thickened 5-8 minutes
• Reduce heat to low and add in cheese by handfuls stirring till smooth
• Stir in mustard and Worcestershire, pasta and sausage
• Pour mixture into a baking dish
• Sprinkle bread crumb mixture overthe top
• Bake uncovered 20-25 minutes
• Let sit 5 minutes before serving 

And don't forget the cook deserves a German beer/ale for his or her cooking efforts

Bon Appetit