We had a macaroni buffet at Grace Church on May 4, 2022. There were 5 different kinds of macaroni dishes, along with salads and desserts. A crew of about 10 made all the macaroni in the church kitchen, starting about 90 minutes before the dinner began. Here are the 5 recipes:
CLASSIC MAC (serves 8, cut recipe in half or fourth for fewer people)
1 lb box of elbow pasta (medium to large size) cooked in big pot of boiling water, one minute less than el dente or minimum called for on box, drained, rinsed in cold water to stop boiling
4 cups of sauce (two sticks of melted butter whisked with one cup flour, add milk and heat, stirring constantly until thick)
3 C. of extra sharp (2 year aged, preferably) cheddar cheddar grated (mix in with sauce until melted) (regular sharp cheddar will also do well)
1 C. of Romano cheese (hard cheese, grated)
1 C. of Panko crumbs, pre-toasted 5 minutes in 400 degree oven
Cook pasta in one pot, make sauce in another, mix sauce and cheeses, fold in macaroni, spread in baking pan, sprinkle Panko on top, bake at 400 for 15 minutes.
JALAPENO MAC (serves 8, cut recipe in half or fourth for fewer people)
1 lb box of elbow pasta (medium to large size) cooked in big pot of boiling water, one minute less than el dente or minimum called for on box, drained, rinsed in cold water to stop boiling
4 cups of sauce (two sticks of melted butter whisked with one cup flour, add milk and heat, stirring constantly until thick)
4 C. of extra sharp (2 year aged, preferably) cheddar cheddar grated (mix in with sauce until melted) (regular sharp cheddar will also do well)
1/2 C. of chopped jalapeño peppers
1 C. of Panko crumbs, pre-toasted 5 minutes in 400 degree oven
Cook pasta in one pot, make sauce in another, mix sauce and cheeses, fold in macaroni, mix in jalapeño peppers, spread in baking pan, sprinkle Panko on top, bake at 400 for 15 minutes.
TRAILER MAC (serves 8, cut recipe in half or fourth for fewer people)
1 lb box of elbow pasta (medium to large size) cooked in big pot of boiling water, one minute less than el dente or minimum called for on box, drained, rinsed in cold water to stop boiling
4 cups of sauce (two sticks of melted butter whisked with one cup flour, add milk and heat, stirring constantly until thick)
4 C. of extra sharp (2 year aged, preferably) cheddar cheddar grated (mix in with sauce until melted) (regular sharp cheddar will also do well)
1 C. chopped hot dogs
4 C. crushed potato chips
Cook pasta in one pot, make sauce in another, mix sauce and cheeses, fold in macaroni, mix in hot dogs. Crumble potato chips on top. Serve out of the pot.
SHEPHERD’S PIE MAC (serves 8, cut recipe in half or fourth for fewer people)
1 lb box of elbow pasta (medium to large size) cooked in big pot of boiling water, one minute less than el dente or minimum called for on box, drained, rinsed in cold water to stop boiling
4 cups of sauce (two sticks of melted butter whisked with one cup flour, add milk and heat, stirring constantly until thick)
4 C. of extra sharp (2 year aged, preferably) English cheddar cheddar grated (mix in with sauce until melted) (regular sharp cheddar will also do well)
2 lbs. cooked ground meat (turkey, beef, or pork)
1 t. salt
2 C. chopped onions
2 C. chopped carrots
2 C. frozen peas
1 C. of Panko crumbs, pre-toasted 5 minutes in 400 degree oven
Cook pasta in one pot, sauce in another, mixing cheeses in with sauce, folding in pasta. Layer bottom of baking pan with mix of meat and vegetables. Put cheese/sauce/pasta mixture on top of that. Sprinkle Panko over the whole and bake for 15 minutes at 400 degrees.
MAC AND BLUE (serves 8, cut recipe in half or fourth for fewer people)
1 lb box of elbow pasta (medium to large size) cooked in big pot of boiling water, one minute less than el dente or minimum called for on box, drained, rinsed in cold water to stop boiling
4 cups of sauce (two sticks of melted butter whisked with one cup flour, add milk and heat, stirring constantly until thick)
4 C. of grated Jack Cheese. Colby or cheddar will also do well)
1/2 C. blue cheese crumbles
2 C. chopped walnuts, toasted in 350 degree oven for 5-10 minutes
Cook pasta in one pot, sauce in another, mixing cheeses in with sauce, folding in pasta. Top with walnuts.
Repertoire 