Smoked Cheddar Bacon Macaroni and Cheese

I came across this incredible website full of the best sounding recipes.  It's called  How Sweet It Is.  And oh how sweet it really is.  I spent a couple of hours pouring over every single recipe and then another hour deciding what I wanted to make first.  I decided on this absolutely incredible mac and cheese recipe.  Which is very odd...for me anyway.  I like my macaroni and cheese to be just that....macaroni and cheese. When it comes to mac and cheese I shy away from the add ons like bacon, and broccoli. I can't explain why I was drawn to this particular recipe, considering the tons of great ones on the site. But, I was and I'm so glad I was. And you will be too when you try it....how sweet it is!

Let's Get Started:

Smoked Cheddar Bacon Macaroni and Cheese

Slightly adapted from How Sweet It Is

2 cups shell pasta

1 tablespoon butter

1 tablespoon flour

1/2 cup chicken broth

1 cup heavy cream

1-2 cups grated smoked cheddar cheese – depends on desired consistency (I used 2 cups).

4-5 slices applewood smoked bacon

salt & pepper to taste

a pinch of nutmeg

Preheat oven to 400.

Fry bacon in a medium-large pan.  Once cooked, let drain on a paper towel, then chop into tiny bits.

Boil salted water & add pasta when ready . Cook and drain water. Set aside.

In a small saucepan on low-medium heat, whisk 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon flour to create a roux, about 5 minutes.

 Add half of the heavy cream and half of chicken broth. Add in half of the smoked cheddar cheddar cheese. Continuously stir so cheese does not stick to bottom. Alternately add more cheese, heavy cream and chicken broth until you reach desired consistency. It should be thick like a gravy.

Add a pinch of nutmeg and salt and pepper to taste if desired.

Add pasta to casserole dish. Add cream sauce over top. Sprinkle bacon on top.

Bake at 400 for about 15-20 minutes, or until top is golden brown.

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Simple Baked Ziti

Simple Baked Ziti

I've been making this Ziti for several years.  I believe I got the recipe from allrecipes.com., which is a great site if you want a new one to check out.  This makes a lot so prepare for leftovers unless you are feeding a small army.  It's a great meal to freeze too!  Which is exactly what I did.  My husband is in Afganistan, and my children are spending some time with their grandmother for a couple weeks.  Home alone....the silence has been golden!  A couple of days ago I'm enjoying my quiet time on the couch watching daytime TV and get the itch to cook something.  There's no one here but me and Lord knows my thighs do not need a full pan of baked ziti.  I make it and freeze it....problem solved! 

Let's Get Started:

Simple Baked Ziti

1 pound dry ziti pasta

Salt

1 onion, chopped

                                                              1 pound lean ground beef

2 (26 ounce) jars spaghetti sauce

6 ounces provolone cheese, sliced

1 1/2 cups sour cream

8 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded (or more)

2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add ziti pasta and cook until al dente. Should take about 8-9 minutes. Drain pasta of water. Set pasta aside.

Preheat over to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9 x 13 casserole dish.

In a large skillet over medium heat, brown ground beef and onion together until the beef is no longer pink and onions are tender and translucent. Drain grease then add spaghetti sauce and simmer for 10-15 minutes.

Layer as follows into the casserole dish:

½ of the ziti noodles, ½ of the provolone cheese, ½ of the sour cream, ½ of the sauce mixture.

I used Breakstone's Roasted Garlic and Herb for the first time in this dish and thought it was perfect.

I used a four cheese spaghetti sauce but any kind will do.  You can also add extra spices like oregano, basil, or garlic.

Repeat and top with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Italian cheese blend works great too.

If you are going to freeze this do not bake, cover well and freeze at this point in the process.

If not,

Bake for 30-40 minutes

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BBQ Chicken and Bacon Pasta

BBQ Chicken and Bacon Pasta
recipe adapted from Cassie Craves

1 pound rotini or other short pasta
1 pound bacon, chopped
1 Tablespoon reserved bacon grease
2-3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size chunks
1 green bell pepper, diced
Salt and pepper to taste
1 1/3 cup barbecue sauce
1 (14.5 oz) can chicken broth
1 cup sour cream
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Green onions, bacon, and shredded cheese for garnish, if desired


Let's Get Started:

1. Cook pasta in boiling salted water according to package directions; drain.

2. Meanwhile, add bacon to a large skillet and cook over medium heat, until the bacon is crisp. Reserve 1 tablespoon of bacon grease and discard the rest.

3. Add the chicken and diced green bell pepper to the bacon grease in the skillet,

season with salt and pepper to taste, cook until the chicken is cooked through and the bell pepper is softened. Stir in the reserved chopped bacon, barbecue sauce, chicken broth and sour cream. Once mixed, add in the shredded cheese.

4. Add pasta and stir to combine; heat through.

5. Serve immediately, garnishing with red or green onions, bacon and shredded cheese, if desired.

PRINT RECIPE HERE