Macaroni to Die For

Macaroni to Die For - with stinky cheese

Honestly the first time I tried this I wasn't thrilled.  About two weeks later I found myself craving it.

Gather the following ingredients:
2 Packages of mushrooms
Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper
1/2 lb of bacon
4 tablespoons of butter
1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup of grated Gruyere cheese
1/2 cup of grated fontina cheese (amazing cheese, yum)
4 ounces of goat cheese
1 1/2 pounds of capativa macaroni - 1 large box
1/4 cup flour
2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup of half-and-half
2 eggs
4 ounces Gorgonzola cheese (stinky cheese)

Baking sheet
Large pan
Medium pot
Large pot
Large bowl
Small mixing bowl
Large glass pan

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  Spread the mushrooms onto the cooking sheet and drizzle with the olive oil.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Cook for 20 - 25 minutes and set them aside.

Start the water boiling for the macaroni.

Cut half a pound of bacon into one inch strips.  I cut it still in the package and then make sure I remove any packaging on the bacon.  Separate the pieces of bacon and place them into the large pan.  Cook over a medium heat for 10 minutes.  Stir often.  Set aside.

You may need to grate the Gruyere and fontina cheeses.  Thin slices work as well.  It just needs to melt quickly.  Melt 4 ounces of butter in the medium pot over a medium heat.

Cook the macaroni according to the package.  Drain when done and place into a large bowl.

While that is cooking and when the butter is melted add the 1/4 cup of flour to the butter.  Whisk the flour into the butter and cook for one minute.  Pour in the 2 cups of whole milk.  Whisk constantly and cook for 3 minutes, until it is bubbly.  Do not let it boil over.

Add the 1/2 cup of half-and-half.

Beat the 2 eggs and then ladle some of the hot milk mixture into the eggs to temper them and make sure they do not cook when you add them to the rest.  Pour the eggs into the milk mixture.  Stir.

Add the Parmesan, Gruyere, fontina, and goat cheese to the butter.  Stir until the cheeses are melted.  Pour the cheese mixture over the macaroni.

Pour half of the macaroni and cheese mixture into the glass pan.  Spread it evenly.  Add half of the mushrooms next.  Now add 2 ounces of Gorgonzola cheese.  Top with half of the bacon.

Repeat all of the ingredients in a second layer.

Bake for 22 minutes at the same 400 degrees or less.  When it is done it should be hot and bubbly.

Video Link

Western Hamburger Gruel

Western Hamburger Gruel, Crock-Pot style

*disclaimer, technically this does not actually qualify as gruel

Gather the following ingredients:

1 lb hamburger
1 can tomato sauce (larger can)
1 can kidney beans
1 can corn
chili powder
garlic powder

Crock-Pot
Pan

Optional:

1/2 cup shredded cheddar

Brown and drain the hamburger in the pan.

Add the hamburger to the Crock-Pot.  Pour in the tomato sauce (this is your liquid).

Drain and kidney beans and corn and dump these into the Crock-Pot.

Add chili powder for flavor (a tablespoon or two).  Add 2 pinches of garlic powder.

Add the optional 1/2 cup of shredded cheddar.

Mix well.  Cook on low for 3 hours.  You can cook it up to about 4 hours or so.  You are just trying to heat it through and combine the flavors.  Everything is already cooked.

*If you wanted to make this on the stove you only need to cook it for about and hour.