Mike'S Mac
- 1 (16 ounce) bag of da vinci twists cavatappi pasta
- 2 -3 cups shredded tillamook extra sharp white cheddar cheese
- 2 -3 cups shredded tillamook extra-sharp cheddar cheese
- 2 kraft mac and cheese sauce mix
- 12 Ritz crackers (crushed)
- 4 tablespoons salted butter
- 3/4 cup whole milk
- 1/3 cup sour cream
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 tablespoon flour
- Heat oven to 450 degrees F.
- Bring water to a boil in a medium-large sauce pan. Stir in pasta and a few pinches of salt.
- Melt 2 Tablespoons of butter in a small dish.
- Add Ritz crackers, stir and set aside.
- Mix Sour cream, cayenne, paprika, and garlic. Set aside. *This can be done to taste. Less cayenne = less kick*
- Strain pasta.
- While straining, melt 2 tablespoons of butter in the same saucepan the pasta was just inches.
- On low-medium heat, stir in flour.
- Add about half a cup of milk, stir with one hand, slow pour with the other. We are making a roux.
- Once the milk is in , it will be a bit runny, but keep slowly stirring on low-medium heat until it starts to bubble and thicken.
- Add a handfull or two of your shredded cheese blend *HIGHLY recommend Tillamook you can pick this up at Costco* This cheese MAKES the recipe, so do not skimp out!
- Once you have your cheese sauce ready to go, pour the strained noodles back into the same saucepan and stir in the sauce you just poured them over.
- Add two packets of Kraft Mac & Cheese powder (You will need to by boxed mac & cheese and steal the powder packets!).
- Add a couple of splashes of milk to help you stir in the powder.
- Add a handfull of your extra sharp cheddar cheese blend, and the sour cream mixture we made earlier. Stir until melted.
- Taste a noodle, at this point there should be plenty of the extra sharp white cheddar taste, if not, add a bit more!
- If you pass the taste test, go ahead and pour your mac & cheese into large, short walled baking dish.
- You guessed it, more cheese. Sprinkle cheese blend over the top. Just enough to barely cover the noodles.
- Sprinkle Ritz/Melted butter mixture over the top, give it a shake and a pat down.
- Pop it in the oven for 10 minutes or until Ritz crumbs are golden brown.
- Enjoy!
cavatappi pasta, cheddar cheese, cheddar cheese, cheese sauce, crackers, butter, whole milk, sour cream, cayenne, garlic powder, paprika, salt, flour
Taken from www.food.com/recipe/mikes-mac-533081 (may not work)