Sweet and Savory Mac & Cheese!

This Mac & Cheese pairs sweet carrots and savory herbs with rich aged cheeses to make a wonderful main or side dish!

Prep time: 1 hour

Serves: 8-10

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Ingredients

1 box of pasta (we recommend Campanelle,

but you can choose from a wide variety

….elbow, ziti, rotini and others)

3-4 medium carrots trimmed and cut roughly

1 shallot

1 ½ tablespoon finely chopped fresh thyme

1 ½ tablespoon finely chopped fresh sage

1 teaspoon nutmeg

Salt and pepper

2 tablespoons olive oil

For Cheese Sauce

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

¼ cup all purpose flour

3 ½ cups whole milk

1 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano

2 cups aged Cheddar cheese

2 cups Gouda cheese

For Topping:

1 small clove garlic

2 cups Panko breadcrumbs

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 tablespoons Parmigiano-Reggiano

Step 1- Prepare the Topping

Put 2 cups of Panko in a medium sized mixing bowl

Add 2 tablespoons of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

Add dash each of salt and pepper

Melt 3 tablespoons unsalted butter with minced garlic clove

Pour butter mixture over Panko and cheese

Toss to coat Panko and cheese well

Set topping aside

Step 2 - Prepare Ingredients

Boil pasta until al dente (one minute less than box instructions)

Drain pasta and toss with a tablespoon olive oil – set aside

Steam roughly chopped carrots until softened (approx. 5 minutes) – add

to drained pasta

Sauté chopped shallots in a tablespoon of olive oil, over medium low

heat until caramelized – set aside

Finely mince 1 ½ tablespoon each of Thyme and Sage – set aside

Step 3 Make Cheese Sauce, Mix & Bake

Melt 4 tablespoons unsalted butter in heavy medium sized saucepan

Whisk ¼ cup flour into melted butter, continue whisking over medium low heat for 3 minutes

while mixture gently bubbles

Slowly add milk, whisking continuously about 5-6 minutes until mixture thickens

Raise heat to medium to bring mixture to a strong simmer, then reduce heat to maintain a

gentle simmer. Stir occasionally while mixture simmers and thickens for 10 more mins.

Remove from heat and whisk in shredded cheeses (5 cups total)

Add shallots and fresh herbs, pinch of salt and pepper, plus nutmeg

Pour mixture over pasta and carrots - mix well

Spread Mac & Cheese evenly in a 9”x12” glass baking dish

Cover with Panko topping

Bake in hot 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes – Topping should be golden brown

Serve and Enjoy!

For more great dinner party recipes visit

www.TheBrownLounge.com

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Thanks