This is by far my favorite mac'n'cheese recipe. I was in a situation recently where I wanted to make this dish while traveling and quickly found out this recipe is hard to find. I googled every combination I could think of to find this exact recipe with no luck. Luckily I've been making this dish for several years and (almost) have the recipe memorized! In an effort to "always" have the recipe at my fingertips, I am posting it here:
Smoked Cheddar Cheese and Macaroni (from Chef Jeff Cooks)
3 Tbls canola oil
4 cups elbow macaroni
4 Tbls unsalted butter, softened
1 cup grated mild white Cheddar cheese
1 1/2 cups grated mild smoked Cheddar cheese
1 1/2 cups grated sharp yellow Cheddar cheese
1 Tbls kosher salt
1 Tbls freshly ground pepper
2 cups milk
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Drizzle the oil into a large pot of boiling water. Add the pasta and cook according to the directions on the package. Drain well. Transfer the noodles to a large stainless steel bowl, add the butter, and mix well. Add the cheeses, reserving 1/2 cup of the smoked and yellow Cheddar cheeses for the topping. Add the salt and pepper and stir well. Stir in the milk and adjust the seasoning. Transfer the noodle mixture to a 13x9 baking dish, cover with aluminum foil and bake for 25 to 35 minutes. Sprinkle with reserved cheeses and bake, uncovered, until all the cheese is melted, 15 to 20 minutes more. Serve immediately. Makes 6 to 8 servings.
