First, this is easy because it starts with Lindi Peterson's Mac and Cheese recipe HERE ONLY ADD 1/4 CUP RED HOT SAUCE PER BATCH!!!
The red hot sauce gives it the zing my family, and Dave's family and everyone who tries it loves! We loved Lindi's recipe, but we wanted a bit of heat and that 1/4 cup works perfectly.
Okay, so make enough to have leftovers. And then refrigerate those leftovers.
Using about 1/4 cup or a little less, scoop cold mac-and-cheese and press each scant 1/4 cup into patties. When all patties are made, prepare the breading:
Beat 3 eggs and 3 tablespoons water in a bowl.
In another bowl combine about 1 1/2 cups bread crumbs, 1 tablespoon granulated garlic, 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning and 2 teaspoons salt.
Dip cold, hand pressed patties into egg, then press into bread crumbs, coating thoroughly. Set on foil covered tray.
Once all are dipped and crumbed, refrigerate. I did this a day ahead and left them in the fridge with no harm done!
Heat fryer to 400°. Fry 3 or 4 at a time per basket (depending on size of fryer) until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.
Now my buddy Lisa (you all remember Lisa, four cute kids, fought cancer and won, and one of my beloveds!!! "The Lawman's Second Chance" was dedicated and devoted to Lisa) made a dipping sauce for these because I was nice enough to send a plate of them over to her house...
She poured Sweet Baby Ray's Chipotle sauce into a bowl. (start with 1/2 cup or so), then she added a dash or two of red hot sauce.
Lisa LIKES SPICEY THINGS!!!!
They loved this sauce for dipping!
But honestly, all on their own??? These deep fried mac-and-cheese was a huge hit. What a great side dish or appetizer!
And then there was this!!!!!
Hello, Moon! The night before a Blue Moon, was this pretty celestial wanderer...
And remember my little rhubarb plants I transplanted last year? Well, they grew up!!! Hello, friends? And with all the rain we've had this year, everything looks spring-lush and not mid-summer brown. Amazing what water can do!
I'm finishing up a sweet Love Inspired novel this week, the second book in my new "Grace Haven" series, and I love it!
I still have to pinch myself to make sure I'm not dreaming, because when you're living your dream, it sure feels unreal!
Back to mac-and-cheese: If you don't have a deep fryer, you can pan fry these delicious morsels in a frying pan on the stove-top. Don't let lack of a deep fryer keep you from trying this!
Oh, wow! Definitely southern since they're fried. LOL I'll have to try this! Lindi's recipe makes a ton of mac and cheese. Thanks for the idea!
ReplyDeleteMissy.... THESE ARE TO DIE FOR. I'm not kidding. I'm not exaggerating. I'm just sayin'.... :) SO GOOD!!!!!!!!!! It's like the best appetizer type thing ever, to the 3 exponent. And seasoning the bread crumbs really well makes them crazy perfect!
ReplyDeleteStill scared of deep fryers...I'm such a wuss. LOL So I might try them in a regular ol' frying pan. Curious to know how you came up with the idea. I'd never in a million years think about deep frying mac and cheese. You are a creative chef.
ReplyDeleteBlogger ate my Kav reply! Kav, I saw it on a restaurant ad and had to try it!!!! LOVE!!!!
DeleteYum! These sound delicious! I can tell Ruthy likes them. :)
ReplyDeleteJill, the whole crowd of people loved them. It was a great (and unhealthy!) experiment!
DeleteNice!
DeleteWe actually have a restaurant around here that serves them. I just can't remember which one. Probably a good thing! :)
ReplyDeleteMissy we have one that does it with boxed mac and cheese. Do you see me curling my lip???? It's sooooo bad compared to these. Of course I love Lindi's mac and cheese recipe, so I'm prejudiced!
DeleteMy daughter will order these off the appetizer menu in a restaurant and make her whole meal out of them! Thank you for the recipe idea!
ReplyDeleteI don't deep fry either, but I wonder how these would be if you baked them? Hmmm....
Sure, you can bake them! They won't be as crisp, but they'll still be wonderful!!!!
DeleteI'm glad Kav asked because for the life of me, I couldn't figure out where you came up with this idea - you being a Yank and all. I know the Belles deep fry everything, but my idea of fried food is fish.
ReplyDeleteI probably would like them too much if I tried the recipe though. I love mac and cheese (even from a box!)
Cate. If I had a deep fryer handy in NYC, I would make these for you in September!!!! So stinkin' good!
DeleteOh my I didn't think you could anything to mac and cheese to make it better. But these sound like winners. I am definitely going to try this. Some day because I don't have a deep fryer. I already do add the hot sauce to my plate of mac and cheese so I'm part way there.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on finishing your book. yay
MMMMM, this looks amazing! I'm with Kav about the frying. Just not something I'm comfortable with but that just means I need someone else to make these for me!
ReplyDelete