Every Saturday for the month of September we will have a cheat day and to start the month off, we decided to have some good ol' Mac n' Cheese!
The recipe I am going to use calls for four meltable cheeses and it suggested, parmesan, white cheddar, gouda and monterey jack. La Grotta market on the corner of Taylor and Waverley is where I went to pick up the cheese so that I can get the exact amount I needed for the recipe but also as a treat since it's a little pricey.
I also wanted to pick up this little guy...
Well, splurge I did with the cheese. Unfortunately I was marvelling at my dessert than paying attention to the slabs of cheese that were being cut for me. Instead of getting 200 grams of each cheese I ended up with 250 grams of extra strong white cheddar (I asked for the mildest possible) and 150 grams of smoked gouda (I did ask for smoked). I ended up spending $25 on three slabs of cheese. Gulp. Also, I should have returned the extra strong white cheddar, M. who is a cheese fiend could barely eat a cube of it. Luckily it didn't ruin the recipe because at $10.47, I wasn't going to waste it!
M. and I go to La Grotta market as a treat since they do have an impressive cheese counter, beautiful and delicious desserts (including panna cotta and mousse), fresh breads and a variety of freshly made pastas or pasta dishes from the deli and interesting spices and other ingredients to peruse. I would say it's like the city's south end version of De Luca's Market. But, you know, pricier. They also have a wine boutique to wander around if you have an even more expensive palette.
Here are the ingredients that I used for the feast I was going to prepare: penne quinoa (gluten-free) pasta from Costco(big bag for $10), butter, most of the cheese I purchased, and 2% milk. I have tried using almond milk when I have made this recipe in the past and the cheese sauce did not thicken up very well.
I need 3 cups of cheese all together... can someone say... cheese attack?
I found the recipe from the Spilling The Beans cookbook that I received for Christmas a couple years ago. It's got a cutesy name which can sometimes be a turn off but it has a couple gems in there. This Mac n' Cheese recipe I think is the best one. Either way, since I stayed true to the recipe I can't share it due to publication rights. *sad face*
Can you guess what the secret ingredient that I will be using?
First, I whisked the butter and whole wheat flour until it turned golden brown.
I added the milk slowly and brought it back to a boil.
Simmered until the mixture thickened enough that it covered the back of a spoon.
Adding the cheese...
Secret ingredient!!! By adding these cannellini beans it brings a nice texture and also another great source of protein to our dinner. You can pick up these beans for $2.99 from Organza or Vital Health.
I find it easier to layer the penne and beans inside the casserole dish before I add the cheese sauce and then bread crumbs such as Panko!
Finished product
Add some kale chips and you are good to go!
What was left over :) Great start to the cheat day saga.
You can learn more about La Grotta market by clicking here.
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