Mouth-Watering Mac and Cheese with Sandra Bell Calhoune

Good morning, all! We're so happy to welcome Belle Calhoune back to the cafe! Julie's out for the day, gallivantin' 'round the Eastern shore somewheres, but in her stead we have this amazing and wonderful hybrid author here in the cafe! We've got made-to-order coffee, fresh homemade jams for your scones (I'm jesting about scones, if I'm going to waste carbs it will be on mac and cheese like Belle brought by or CAKE....)  Okay, no scones, little petit fours cakes, instead!!! Hang out, chat it up, or just peek in, grab your coffee and go.... There are no term limits in the cafe!

Ruthy

Hello everyone.  Belle Calhoune here.  It’s such a pleasure to be visiting the Yankee Belle Cafe.

I'm talking macaroni and cheese today.  Finally, after years of making pitiful macaroni and cheese, I've found the recipe of a lifetime. 

I call it the golden ticket recipe, because I have struggled for many years to make a fantastic macaroni and cheese.  My sister Karen has always been able to whip up a mouthwatering macaroni, which my kids raved over.  Sadly, every single time I tried to make it, the macaroni came out overcooked or bland or blah.  It just wasn't gooey or creamy or cheesy.  It was a big ole dud.  Bring out the tiny violins everyone. 

Enter one of the miracles of my life.  The slow cooker.

Now cue the halo music.  Ta Dah!   About four years ago I purchased a slow cooker and began experimenting with recipes.  Ribs.  Pulled pork.  Chicken.  Chili.  And yes....mac n' cheese.  Where had this slow cooker been all my life?  If I wasn't already married, I would have proposed.  As a writer with deadlines, the simplicity of the slow cooker is extremely appealing.  As a wife and mother who enjoys putting delectable dishes on the dining room table at night, I've found dozens and dozens of recipes that satisfy all the members of my family.  This macaroni and cheese recipe is my all-time favorite.  I've served it at Thanksgiving, Christmas and upon request from my children.  It's that good!  And it's very simple to make.  And like Charlie in Willie Wonka, I found my golden ticket. 

Mouth-watering Mac n' cheese

One box of elbow macaroni (cooked and drained)

1/2 cup of sour cream

1 cup of milk

1 can of Campbell's condensed cheese soup

1 ½ cups of (orange) cheddar cheese, 1 1/2 cups of white sharp cheddar cheese, grated

2 eggs

1 teaspoon of ground mustard

1 teaspoon of adobo or seasoned salt

½ tsp pepper

3 tablespoons of butter

Boil pasta for six minutes, then drain.

The crock pot should be set to high.  Add pasta to crock pot along with grated cheeses, cheddar soup, sour cream, butter, milk and eggs.  Mix all together then add all the seasonings.  If desired, add additional cheese or sour cream.

You can periodically check back to make sure it is not browning too much at the sides.  You can stir every now and again.

2 hours to 2.5 hours on high is pretty near perfection although slow cooker times vary.  You can always check on it and look at the sides.  If they are browning too much you can always turn the temp down to low.  The cheese is very flexible also.  You can use different types of cheese or add more or less depending on your taste.  I once caught my youngest adding more cheddar cheese to the crock pot when she thought I wasn’t looking.  I let it slide since she’s pretty adorable.

I have to admit that I left out the butter this last time.  And guess what? I was the only one who knew.   You couldn't taste it at all.  And I still am on the fence about the little brown crunchies on the sides of the macaroni....some people love them while others don't.  The longer you cook it, the more brown crunchies you’ll get.

I honestly think this is the macaroni and cheese recipe I will stick to like glue.  It is perfection.  And it can be tweaked.  Bacon bits can be added to the mac n cheese.  Add some lobster for a nice seafood lobster mac n’ cheese.  Bread crumbs can be sprinkled over the top at the end.  Or if you want to add some veggies, broccoli can be placed on top as well.  A friend of mine added sliced hotdogs for her five year old son.

The lovely Julie Hilton Steele posted about what she’s thankful for during this Thanksgiving season.  I’m very thankful for my family.  My husband, Randy, never complains about all the time I spend writing.  My lovely daughter, Amber, is a freshman in college and enjoying the transition immensely.  My 12 year old Sierra is blossoming into a lovely young lady and feeling empowered about her dyslexia. I’m thankful to be living the life I always imagined.  God is good.