Soul Food Mac and Cheese
Robert Cornegy, District 36:
Bedford Stuyvesant, Northern Crown Heights
Ingredients
1 lb. elbow macaroni pasta (uncooked)
1 teaspoon salt (to salt the water for the pasta)
8 cups water
1 cup evaporated milk
1 & 1/2 cup half & half
4 tablespoons unsalted butter not margarine
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
4 oz. cream cheese
8 oz. gouda cheese, shredded or cubed
8 oz. creamy havarti cheese, shredded or cubed
8 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
4 oz. mozzarella cheese, shredded
4 oz. colby jack cheese, shredded
1 teaspoon seasoning salt or plain salt
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
Directions
Pour the water into a large pot and sprinkle in about 1 teaspoon of salt. Bring the water to a boil, over high heat.
Add in the elbow macaroni pasta. Cook the pasta until it is al dente (cooked but still firm), then drain the pasta and rinse it under cool water.
Place a large saucepan over medium heat, then toss in the butter.
Melt the butter down completely, then sprinkle in 2 tablespoons of flour.
Whisk the ingredients until they are well incorporated, then pour in the evaporated milk and half & half.
Whisk the ingredients, and continue to cook it over medium heat for about 3 minutes.
Reduce the heat to low, then add in the cream cheese, gouda, and havarti.
Stir the mixture until the cheese melts, and you have a nice creamy cheese sauce.
Sprinkle in the seasoning salt, pepper, paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder. Mix until well incorporated.
Toss the macaroni pasta into a large pot, and pour in the cheese sauce.
Stir everything until it is well combined, then pour half of the mac and cheese mixture into a 9x13 baking dish.
Sprinkle some of the sharp cheddar, mozzarella, and colby jack on top of the mac and cheese.
Add the remaining mac and cheese mixture into the baking dish and top it off with the remaining cheese.
Bake in a preheated oven, on 350° for 25-30 minutes or until the top is bubbly and slightly browned.
Remove from the oven, and let sit for 5-10 minutes.