Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Creamy Stove Top Mac with Bacon



Mac and Cheese is the ultimate comfort food. Rather you bake it or cook the stove top method, Mac and Cheese is just plain delicious.  Traditionally when I ate stove top Mac and Cheese  it came out of a box. Yes, I am guilty of fixing stove top  Mac out of a box.

Hey, my mama never cooked stove top Mac so I had to improvise. Mac and Cheese in my house was baked to perfection. Sometimes I don't have time to wait 45 extra minutes to bake Mac and Cheese and this is when my quick stove top method comes in handy.


First, the bacon people. Crispy, crispy, bacon! Fry up some bacon and reserve the grease please. Add an onion to the bacon grease and cook it for about 5 minutes. Then were going to make a light roux with a little butter and flour. 


Next we add the heavy cream and whisk in the cheese by the cupful until it's nice and creamy. Make sure you lower the heat before adding the milk and cream so the sauce want "break."


After the seasonings have been added and you tasted the sauce, it's important that the sauce is perfect at this point, because this is what the final product will taste like. Adjust seasonings according to your taste buds. I love pepper so sometimes I add extra.

We're cooking people so increase or reduce seasonings based on your personal preferences. I only give this advice when cooking, don't do this if you're baking...lol. follow all baking directions or your cake will turn into a hockey puck.  Don't forget to fold in the pasta noodles, top with bacon and enjoy!


I must admit I ate right out the pot. It was so good and creamy. I highly recommend you make this ASAP!


This bowl is too small people, hand me the pot!

Creamy Stove Top Mac with Bacon

Prep Time:10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4-6

Ingredients:

1 lb penne pasta
1 pack of bacon, diced
2 cups heavy cream
3 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated
3 cup jack cheese, grated
1/2 cup parmesean cheese, grated
1 onion, diced
2 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoon flour
2 teaspoon creole seasoning
2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
extra virgin olive oil
salt for pasta water

Directions:

Bring a large pot of water to boil, add about 2 teaspoonfuls of salt to water. Add pasta to water and cook according to package directions minus 1 minute. Drain and rinse pasta, toss in a little olive oil and set aside.

In a medium skillet add 1 tablespoonful of olive oil over medium heat, add diced bacon and cook until crispy. Drain bacon, reserve 2 tablespoonfuls of bacon grease, add 2 tablespoons of butter, add diced onion and cook for about 5 minutes. Add flour and cook a few minutes more.

Add seasonings and mix well. Reduce heat to medium-low. Add heavy cream and add cheese by the cupful, mixing well after each addition. Taste mixture and adjust seasonings if needed. Fold in pasta and mix well. Top with bacon and enjoy!


6 comments:

  1. Yum! I love macaroni and cheese regardless of how it comes to fruition, in the oven or on the stove top! This looks super. You're seriously going vegan after making something this awesome? haha

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    1. LOL Victoria....I am on the fence about that...lol...

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  2. This looks a very luxurious mac and cheese! This is a very special treat. I love that you added creole seasoning and bacon. :-)

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  3. So I knew at 10 weeks pregnant, that I was starting to feel much better when I came across this recipe and actually went home and made it. The first time I have cooked in 8 weeks. LOL! DELICIOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are now my new favorite blog. I have not seen 1 recipe that I am not dying to make. Keep up the great work!!!

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    1. Thanks Arge, I am so glad you enjoyed it. I wish I could have mac and cheese when I was pregnant. Baby Girl was not having it. I lived off a gallon of milk, mike and ike candies and salads. That's all I could eat for almost 10 months...lol

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