Wednesday, February 29, 2012

The Tale of Two Favorites!

So one of my favorite sandwiches is a good old BLT. If you don't know what BLT stands for I feel sorry for you and you really should Google it haha. But I said 2 favorites didn't I! The second is mac and cheese and no not from a blue box or even the yellow box.  


Rachael Ray has this amazing way of turning almost any great food into a mac and cheese dish can you guess this one??


Creamy BLT mac and cheese!! But in the one L doesn't stand for lettuce because who really wants lettuce in their mac and cheese?? 


B- Bacon
L- Leeks
T- Tomato (paste)


Creamy Blt mac and cheese
(small changes from Racheal Ray)


1 pound of your favorite noodle for mac and cheese\
Extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO), for drizzling
slices bacon, chopped
leeks--trimmed, halved lengthwise and sliced crosswise
large cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
tablespoons tomato paste
ounces cream cheese, cut into pieces
1 1/2 cups shredded parmigiano-reggiano cheese

Note: After you chop your leeks let them sit in a bowl of water. Swish them around a couple times, then let them sit and let all the dirt fall to the bottom, and scoop out onto a towel and dry. 


~Preheat the oven to 500 degrees . Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt it, add the pasta and cook until al dente. Drain, reserving 1 cup pasta cooking water 

~While the pasta is working, in a large skillet, heat a drizzle of EVOO over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook until crisp at the edges, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the leeks and cook until softened, 3 minutes. 
Add the garlic and crushed red pepper and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Stir in the tomato paste for 1 minute. Stir in the cream cheese until melted. Stir in half of the shredded cheese, then the reserved pasta cooking water.


~Add the pasta to the sauce and toss. Pile into a casserole and top with the remaining shredded cheese. Bake until browned on top, 7 to 8 minutes. 




What would also be really good with this is some bread crumbs on top if you want a little extra crunch and to bring in one more part of the sandwich.

Enjoy with a light yummy salad!
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