My Sister Stole My Mac & Cheese
Hello, once again!
At family gatherings I’m often asked to bring food. Dessert, side dish, even the main dish (That was Easter 2018 at my brothers. I believe it was ribs ;-) ).
Well, recently, my sister had a birthday party for my nephew Owen. My nephews mean the world to me, so of course I obliged! I thought about what a good side dish would be for burgers and hot dogs, of course I landed on macaroni and cheese! Now, I have made macaroni and cheese a million different ways. This time, I decided I would try to created an “old fashioned shells and cheese” recipe. Nice and creamy. Filled with lots of gooey cheese. And enough to feed a crowd!
The story behind the title is that this shells and cheese recipe is SO good, that my sister stole it from me. True story. That’s how good it was! After the party my daughter wanted a little “to go,” and I knew there was some left in the pan. Only when it came time, my sister said “huh... not sure I think it’s all gone!” Yep. You heard it here first. The leftovers mysteriously disappeared. (Until I searched high and low CSI style and found them in her fridge all tucked away!) That’s. How. Good.
You want the recipe?!? I’ll give it to ya, but you have been warned. It might go missing. And if it does? Ask your sister...
xoxo,
Paula
Old Fashioned Shells and Cheese
1 1/2 boxes Pasta shells
6 tbsp. Butter
1/4 cup Flour
1 Garlic clove, grated
2 cups Milk, warm
2 cups Half and Half, warm
1 tsp. Dried mustard
2 tsp. Salt
1/2 tsp. White pepper
1 tsp. Ground mustard
8 oz. Munster cheese
8-10 oz. Medium cheddar cheese
8 oz. Velveeta, cubed
1/3 cup Heavy cream
Set oven to 375 degrees. Boil pasta 2 min. shy of what the instructions say. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process. In a separate pan, melt the butter and add the flour. Cook for 1-2 min. Add the grated garlic. Cook until fragrant. Add the milk and half and half. Whisk and cook until thickened. Whisk in the seasonings. Turn to low and add all the cheese until melted and smooth. Add in your cream. Blend in. Combine the cooled shells and the cheese mixture. Pour into a buttered baking pan (I used a disposable one) and dot with butter and sprinkled parmesan cheese. Bake until heated all the way through. Perfect for potlucks, parties, or as a meatless main dish! Just add a side salad and you’re good to go! Enjoy!