Macaroni and Cauliflower Cheese Bake

You can either serve this macaroni unbaked, so it’s loose, gooey, and silky, or bake it under the broiler for a few minutes before serving to give it a crispy, golden topping. You could even try adding a grated hard-boiled egg or cooked prawns, but I like the simple style, as here.

	1/2	a head of cauliflower
	8	oz. Cheddar cheese
	4	oz. Parmesan cheese
	~	A small bunch of fresh Italian parsley
	~	Sea salt
	1	lb. dried macaroni (elbows)
	1	cup crème fraîche or sour cream

1. To prepare your pasta: Remove the outer green leaves from the cauliflower and discard. Slice the end off the cauliflower stalk and cut the head into small florets. Halve the thick stalk lengthways, then slice thinly. Grate the Cheddar and Parmesan into a large heatproof bowl. Finely chop the parsley stalks and leaves.
2. To cook your pasta: Bring a large pan of salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni and all your cauliflower and cook according to the macaroni-package instructions. Place the bowl of cheese over the saucepan and add the crème fraîche. Carefully stir every so often until the cheese is smooth and melted. If the water boils up beneath the bowl, just turn the heat down slightly. Add all the chopped parsley to the melted cheese and season with a pinch of salt and pepper.
3. Carefully remove the bowl of cheese using a towel or oven gloves and put aside. Drain the macaroni in a colander over a bowl, reserving the cooking water. Return the pasta to the pan, pour in the melted cheese, and stir. It should have a lovely, silky consistency, but if it’s too thick for you, add a splash of your cooking water to thin it out a bit.
4. At this point you can either serve the macaroni as is, or finish it under the broiler to make it crispy and golden on top. To do this, preheat your broiler to a medium to high heat. Add ⅔ cup of the reserved cooking water to the macaroni, stir in, then transfer to a baking dish. Place under the broiler until golden and bubbling.
5. To serve your pasta: Divide the pasta between plates or bowls, or place the baking dish in the middle of the table next to a nice green salad and let everyone help themselves

This content is from the book Jamie’s Food Revolution by Jamie Oliver.

Cheesy Au Gratin Potatoes

Printable Version with Picture
Printable Version
*Serves 6-8
Potatoes:
3 tablespoons butter
1 large yellow onion, chopped
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup milk
1 ½ teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese (8 ounces)
26-ounce bag frozen shredded hash browns
1/2 cup light sour cream
Topping:
3 cups cornflakes, lightly crushed
2 tablespoons butter, melted
Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until the onion is softened and translucent,a bout 5-6 minutes. Stir in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, for about a minute. Combine the chicken broth and milk in a liquid measure and slowly whisk in the mixture. Add the salt, pepper and thyme. Stir to combine. Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring frequently, until the mixture is slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.
Take the pot off the heat and stir in the cheese until smooth. Mix in the frozen hash browns, lifting and folding the mixture until well combined. Finally, stir in the sour cream.
In a medium bowl, toss the lightly crushed cornflakes with the butter until evenly combined. Scoop out the potato mixture into a 9X13-inch baking dish and top with the buttered cornflakes. If baking the potatoes by themselves, bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes, until hot and bubbly around the edges. If baking the potatoes with a ham (my ham recipe bakes at 300 degrees), bake the potatoes for 90 minutes at 300 degrees then crank the oven to 400 degrees and bake the potatoes for 10 minutes more. In both baking situations, let the potatoes rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Recipe Source: Mel's Kitchen Cafe

Pizza Dough

2 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp sugar

1 tbsp active dry yeast

1 cup warm water

1 tbsp oil

Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl. Mix the water and oil together then add to the dry ingredients and mix until well blended. Kneed for a few minutes by hand or in a stand mixer with a dough hook.

Lightly oil a bowl, place dough in the bowl and roll it around to oil the outside of the dough. Cover bowl for 20 minutes for dough to rise. 

Spread dough out onto a 12" or 16" pizza pan. I use a 12" pan and this was a really thick dough. If you don't want it quite as thick you could use a larger pan or split the dough into two crusts. Oil the top, add your favorite spices, sauce and toppings. Cook on 450 for 11-15 minutes. 

Wild West Pizza

1 can Pillsbury refrigerated classic pizza crust
1/2 lb lean ground beef
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
1 can refried beans
1 cup taco sauce or chunky style salsa
1 can whole kernel corn with red and green peppers, well drained
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
2 cups shredded lettuce
1 medium tomato, chopped
1/2 cup sliced green onions

Heat oven to 400*. Spray large cookie sheet with cooking spray. Unroll dough place on cookie sheet. Starting at center, press out dough onto 14 x 12 inch rectangle. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges of crust being to brown.

Meanwhile, in 8 inch skillet, cook ground beef sprinkled with salt and pepper over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until thoroughly cooked; drain.

Spread refried beans evenly over partially baked crust.  Spread 1/2 cup of the taco sauce over beans. Top with ground beef mixture, corn and cheese.

Bake 10 to 14 minutes longer or until crust is golden brown and cheese is melted. Top with lettuce, tomatoes and onions. Cut into squares or wedges; serve with remaining 1/2 cup taco sauce.

Grands! Taco Melts

1 package Old El Paso taco seasoning mix
2/3 cup water
1 1/2 cups Old El Paso Thick and Chunky Salsa
1 lb lean ground beef, cooked, drained
1 can Pillsbury Grands! refrigerated biscuits
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack Cheese or Mexican Blend
1 cup sour cream

Heat oven to 375*
In medium saucepan, cook taco seasoning mix, water, 1/2 cup of the salsa and cooked ground beef until thickened.
Press each biscuit into 6inch round. Fill each with taco mixture and 1 tablespoon cheese. Fold dough over filling and press to seal. Place on greased cookie sheet.
Bake 9 to 14 minutes or until golden brown.  Serve with remaining salsa, cheese and sour cream.

Manicotti with Cheese

8 oz cooked manicotti

1 ¾ c (15oz) Ricotta Cheese

2 c Mozzarella, grated

¼ c Parmesan cheese

1 Tbs. dried parsley

½ tsp. salt

¼ tsp. black pepper

1 jar Prego 3 cheese spaghetti sauce

Cook pasta until bendable, but not cooked thoroughly.  Lay flat to cool.  In a bowl, stir cheeses, parsley, salt & pepper.  Stuff cheese mixture into manicotti.  In a 9x13 pan, add a little bit of the spaghetti sauce to coat the bottom of the pan (to prevent sticking.)  Add stuffed manicotti.  Pour remaining sauce over pasta.  Sprinkle with Mozzarella cheese and cover with foil.  Bake 40 min at 350’.  Uncover and bake an additional 15 minutes.