From Denny: Check it out! Yet another stellar mac 'n' cheese recipe to enjoy. Does Life get any better? The perfect weekend food, the perfect crowd pleaser, the perfect recipe for the cold weather and all this crazy snow we have been finding all across the nation this winter. What a pleasant way to warm up! :)
This recipe is real magic. Snuggled warm inside this dish are no less than five kinds of wonderful cheeses. The rich base gets a lift from amber ale. It bakes with a blanket of light panko crumbs for some crunch. Parmesan cheese spreads out on top too to give a rich, golden perfection.
Be sure to visit the Rackhouse Pub in Denver, Colorado and try this dish in person!
Beer-Baked Mac 'N' Cheese
From: Rackhouse Pub in Denver, Colorado
Total time: 1 1/2 hours
Servings: 12 to 16
Ingredients:
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup amber beer
2 cups half and half
1/2 pound Brie
16 ounces (2 packages) cream cheese
1 1/2 cups crumbled Gorgonzola cheese
2 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 1/2 cups grated Parmesan cheese, divided
1 (16-ounce) box penne pasta, cooked and drained
Salt and pepper
1/2 cup panko or bread crumbs
Directions:
1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a medium, heavy-bottom pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour to form a light roux. Slowly whisk in the beer and half and half.
3. Add the Brie and cream cheese to the sauce, stirring until the cheeses are melted and incorporated. Stir in the Gorgonzola, cheddar and 1 cup Parmesan cheese.
4. Stir in the pasta, taste and adjust the seasonings as desired with salt and pepper (some of the cheese will be salty and the mixture may need only a little salt, if any).
5. Pour the mixture into a 13-by-9-inch baking dish. Top the mixture by sprinkling over the remaining Parmesan cheese and panko crumbs. Place the dish in the oven and bake until the sauce is bubbly and the toppings are crisp and golden, about 1 hour.
6. Cool slightly before serving.
Each serving: 566 calories; 20 grams protein; 29 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram fiber; 41 grams fat; 25 grams saturated fat; 123 mg. cholesterol; 2 grams sugar; 611 mg. sodium.
*** Photo by Anne Cusack/Los Angeles Times
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