Laura is on Faces of Beauty today! AND it’s her birthday!
Guys, I’m at a loss for words today.
No, really…a loss for words. The rosemary macaroni ‘n’ cheese completely erased my vocabulary.
Words like ‘stupendous’, ‘outstanding’, ‘the-best-thing-you’ve-ever-put-in-your-mouth’ (promptly followed with a ‘that’s what she said’) come to mind. But those aren’t unique descriptors. We all know other things that fit those descriptions, but this? Guys, this will change your life.
As my friend Stefanie said when describing it to our friends who didn’t try it (she made it and has altered my life forever), “I know you didn’t have any, but I think you’d like it because you’re human.”
Indeed.
ROSEMARY MACARONI ‘n’ CHEESE
inspired by Cooks Illustrated
Breadcrumb topping:
1 TBSP Olive oil
1 Cup finely chopped shallots
1 TBSP finely chopped fresh rosemary
2 Cups coarsely ripped sourdough bread (I’m interjecting here to say you’re going to want to double this recipe and eat at least half while you cook. It’s just how life works, guys)
1/4 cup finely chopped Italian parsley
Heat oven to 375 degrees.
In a heavy skillet, add olive oil until heated. Add shallots and rosemary, stir until tender and fragrant (oh wow, I wish I smelled like this all the time). Add the bread and parsley and stir for about 1 minute. Pour the bread into a baking dish and place in the oven while you make the mac n cheese.
Mac ‘N’ Cheese
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
6 TBSP (3/4 stick) butter
4 cups milk
3 cups (packed) extra sharp grated cheddar cheese (set 1 cup aside)
3 Cups (packed) Fontina cheese (set 1 cup aside)
1/2 cup grated Pecorino Romano Cheese, (set 1/4 cup aside)
8 cups cooked pasta of your liking
In the same heavy skillet, melt the butter on medium high heat. Add the flour, nutmeg, and cayenne all at once, and stir – do not brown! Gradually add the milk, bring to a simmer, and stir until it thickens – about 5 minutes. Add your cheeses, season generously with salt and a pinch of pepper, and stir until it’s all mixed. Add your cooked pasta and mix it all up. Layer pasta, then a mix of your reserved cheeses, then pasta again in whatever baking dish works. Take your breadcrumbs out of the oven and put them on top of your pasta. Cover that baby with cheese, and pop it in the oven for 30 minutes with tin foil on the top, 10 minutes without the tin foil, and voila!
Some added notes from Stefanie include, “A cardiovascular catastrophe that smells like heaven and tastes like bliss!” and “I think it’d be great with bacon, but seriously? Does it need more saturated fat? Maybe tomatoes!”
Stef, I agree…it does smell like heaven and taste like bliss, but I can’t wrap my brain around the cardiovascular catastrophe part. My argument is that it’s good for you because it makes your heart happy. That’s my story and I’m stickin’ to it!
And yes, it would be fabulous with both bacon AND tomatoes…and more cheese 🙂
Happy Friday y’all!
I keep saying I’ll do a “homemade mac ‘n cheese” and well, no I clearly have no excuses. A “there are no words” post from you? This must be divine…. 😉
Holy cow, this looks amazing. I would put rosemary on my cereal and ice cream if my husband didn’t think it was weird. I love the stuff!
Beautiful!! I recently made mac ‘n’ cheese and I think I need to do it again soon 🙂 Maybe your version the next time!
…”it’s good for you because it makes your heart happy”.
THAT made me happy.
Thank you for that. Truly.
I just had very cheesy, half-baked greasy pizza that’s sitting in my stomach like a brick – but heart was happy at the time …? 😉
Oh my lord that looks freaking delicious! I LOVE mac and cheese! 😀
oh my goshhhh girl i LOVE mac and cheese! YUM!
Oh my goodness, this looks so delicious!
Hey girl…that mac and cheese looks EPIC! I want it right now. I still read even though I don’t comment often! Miss you! 🙂
sourdough bread would be fantastic in this!! great choice for breadcrumbs!!! this is freaking oozingly delicious <3
There is something pretty frikkin cozy about rosemary and cheese… and pasta. And bacon. I am making this pronto!
Heavenly !!! Be sure to take in deep breaths to get the fullness of aroma.
WONDERFUL STUFF!
Just looking at that makes my heart happy. Must recreate soon!
Mmm yes, add the bacon!!
I’ve been dreaming about rosemary lately, awesome recipe! I need to grow some fresh rosemary.
This looks so much better than the mac and cheese I ate today! SO much better.
OK I attempted baked mac n cheese before, perhaps it’s time to try again!
I love the rosemary in there! YUM!
this sounds UH-MAZING! I’m actually not a huge fan of rosemary though…do you think I could leave it out?
Oh, good gravy. This looks fantastic! I’m feeling a little sickly as of late and I want this to be in my mouth, now.
Incredible looking!!!! I’m making this for my husband the first chance I get, as homemade macaroni and cheese is dear to his heart!! (not that it’s so far away from mine, either) Thanks for sharing…
Cathy B. @ brightbakes
this sounds amazing. stupendous. outstanding… 😀
I want to make this immediately.
Go all the way. Give it bacon!
Wow that looks like a great dish to make for Thanksgiving!
I need to make that STAT!
Ohh my goodness that sounds {and looks} amazing!
haha, I like that mentality!! Can I also say that about the half pint of ice cream that I demolished last night?? lol
Great recipe!!! Definitely add to my to-cook list 🙂
My mouth literally watered while reading this post. And bacon, yes!
Who doesn’t love mac n’ cheese? This looks fantastic! What a great recipe!
I never thought of rosemary! Perfect!
I bet it tastes heavenly.
Mac n’ cheese can’t be beat, except maybe by pizza. mmmm foooooood. *drool*
Ding ding ding!!! We have a winner!
Oh my goodness! It’s only 9am here but I must head home and make this right away. I have been craaaaving mac n cheese since the weather turned all Fall like. This is all fancy and grown-up- like too!
I for one, will make it with whole milk AND bacon thankyouverymuch! And it will be HEALTHY fat (omega-3 anyone?) because it’s from local, grass fed cows and pastured pigs. Oh yes, it can be done!
I think my coffee just kicked in… long comment, sorry!
Macaroni and cheese is one of those things thats always good. Especially in fall and winter. Such a cool idea to add Rosemary. I usually add some garlic powder and black pepper to mine, but this rosemary thing seems much more- adult, haha.
How did you know I was craving mac & cheese?
Annnnnnd, now I’M at a loss of words. No, wait: YUM.
Great minds think alike 🙂 We had Mac & Cheese last night… Rosmary sounds wonderful I should try that next time.
Woah I can’t even come up with a good word for that – incredible! Adding herbs to mac and cheese is such a great way to add some flair! 🙂
Whoa! That’s out of control! WANT!
Oh no you didn’t! This is the perfect weekend recipe! Yum, yum!
Mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food for me. This looks amazing! Happy Friday!
definitely DEFINITELY making this at some point this fall.
Consider it book marked 🙂
Love comfort food, especially as it starts to get chillier outside. Yummmm
I want this now. With the bacon.
Your recipes keep on getting better and better!!! Love this one!
mmmmmmmmm I’m salivating
Nothing is better than mac and cheese in the fall 🙂
I love BAKED M&C instead of just making it on the stove — it tastes so much more homey and wonderful that way.
Yay! I caught your post earlier since I saw the tweet. Since Reader likes to hide posts from each other until later. Stupid reader. 😉
And yea. That’s good for you because it makes you happy. I’m all for that! 😀