Our Best Mac: Throwbacks for #‎NationalMacandCheeseDay‬

There are only a few things in the world that make us stop everything and pay homage. But, National Mac & Cheese Day is definitely one.

After all, how can you resist the ooey gooey goodness of a beautiful bowl of noodles smothered in delicious cheese?

We certainly can't.  And if you're looking for inspiration for tonight's dinner,  we're hoping one of these recipes might provide some cheesy, gooey inspiration.

Moussaka Mac & Cheese

If you love moussaka, you'll love this mac & cheese hybrid featuring layers of delicious eggplant, lamb and cheesy noodle goodness.

Benedictine Mac & Cheese with Caramelized Onions & Rosemary

There's nothing like a mac & cheese that's chock-full of slowly caramelized onions and rosemary. If you can't find Benedictine cheese, substitute another full-flavored variety in its place.

Buffalo Chicken Macaroni & Cheese

All the classic flavors of Buffalo Chicken right here in a mac & cheese. You know you want it. Recipe easily converts to a gluten free version.

Got a favorite mac & cheese recipe to share?
We'd love to hear about it!


©BURP!

Pairdd: Gluten-free Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese

 So, life has been a little crazy around our little Burp! house lately. We've been busy meeting with our new Advisory Team, and launching our new Community Partner program for our MKEfoodies group. And we've been hatching a plan for a new business concept (more on that as things develop).

On top of everything, we've been working with a brand new Milwaukee company called Pairdd to develop gluten-free recipes for their brand new meal delivery service. 

The first recipe we sent over was one of our favorites -- Buffalo chicken mac & cheese. It's creamy and dreamy and a little bit spicy, with all the great flavors you expect from buffalo wings.

Now, you know we love to cook. But, when life gets busy, even we take short-cuts.  So, one of the things we love about Pairdd is that they do all the work for you.

All the vegetables are peeled, the ingredients pre-measured... it's perfect for a weeknight when you get home late and are seriously tempted to order takeout. Which is exactly the sort of night we were having when our Pairdd box arrived.

Needless to say, Peef was thrilled to just be able to take all the ingredients out of the box and whip dinner up in a flash. 

And the best part is, the meal was absolutely delicious.

Buffalo Chicken Macaroni & Cheese

Want to know more about Pairdd?

Their concept is simple:

1. First, check to make sure that you're within the Pairdd delivery area.
2. Then, select one of the delicious gluten-free recipes from the Pairddwebsite. (we'd recommend the gluten free Buffalo chicken mac & cheese... but then, we're a bit biased)
3. Pairdd does ALL shopping and measuring and delivers all the ingredients right to your door!
4. You simply follow the step-by-step recipe instructions... and voila!  A gourmet meal in no time.
5. If you're happy with your meal, head back to the Pairdd web site to refer a friend.  You get $20 off your next purchase, and your friends get $15 off their first purchase!

Even better, from now until SEPTEMBER 31, 2013 you can use the coupon code BURP50 to save 50% on your order... which means you get an amazing gluten-free meal of your choice for just $15. And if you're eyeing up our mac & cheese, be aware it will only be available through next week!

Let us know if you try them out!  We'd love to hear your feedback.

©BURP!

Moussaka Macaroni and Cheese

We’re big fans of Greek food, a cuisine drawing from the influences of both the ancients and the Ottoman empire.

Mediterranean fare is generally fresh and healthful, and makes liberal use of seasonal vegetables, seafood and olives. But, when we’re in the mood for an indulgence, we always find ourselves reaching for the creamy richness of moussaka.

Perhaps the most widely recognized of all Greek dishes, moussaka is a casserole made by layering eggplant with a spiced meat filling, then topping it off with a creamy béchamel sauce that is baked to golden perfection.

This mac n’ cheese mimics the flavors of the classic dish by layering cheesy pasta with a sauce made from ground lamb, diced eggplant, and fragrant spices. A creamy béchamel unites the layers and enhances the richness of the dish.

We use Wisconsin Fontina in place of the less common Kefalograviera for its creaminess and flavor, along with Wisconsin cow’s milk Feta, which pulls in the briny, tangy notes commonly found in traditional Mediterranean fare.

Don’t be intimidated by the long list of ingredients. This dish comes together fairly quickly, and offers you the opportunity to enjoy a glass or two of Greek Ouzo while it’s baking. The eggplant lamb mixture can be made a day ahead to save time.

Moussaka Macaroni & Cheese
Check out this recipe, and a host of other delicious takes on macaroni and cheese over at 30 Days and 30 Ways with Macaroni & Cheese.  And don't forget to enter their Mac & Cheese Please! giveaway to win a copy of Laura Werlin's awesome mac & cheese book. -- enter before March 1st!

©BURP!

Benedictine Mac & Cheese with Caramelized Onions & Rosemary

If the way to someone's heart is really through his/her stomach, then this post is probably as good as a love potion when it comes to enchanting and delighting your beloved.  Although macaroni & cheese might be a bit heavy to serve as a Valentine's Day dinner, it's the perfect dinner for a chilly winter weekend when you can't think of anything better than snuggling up on the couch with a glass of wine and your lover.

Serve this delicious pasta with a crisp green salad and a glass of a nice full red wine. Either an earthy red Bordeaux or a spicy, fruit-forward Zinfandel would pair very nicely.

This post is featured as part of the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board's 2nd Annual 30 Days 30 Ways with Macaroni & Cheese. Be sure to give them a visit and check out all the other scrumptious recipes created by food bloggers around the nation using Wisconsin cheese. 
_____________________________________________________________

If you conjure your fondest childhood memories of macaroni and cheese, what do you envision?

A steaming bowl of creamy stovetop pasta graced with American cheese?

Baked macaroni & cheese with scads of gooey sharp cheddar & a sprinkling of crispy bread crumbs?
Or how about a serving of that ever-popular electric orange macaroni & cheese from a box?

Regardless of your specific orientation to the dish, macaroni and cheese remains one of the most popular—if not the most popular—American comfort foods.

As a result, there are hundreds of recipes for mac and cheese out there.  And you must trust us when I tell you that we’ve tried most of them.  At heart, we’re big fans of simple, old fashioned macaroni and cheese.  However, we also really like venturing out and coming up with great new flavor combinations for this classic dish.  And this version is one of our favorites so far.

Imagine sweet slices of perfectly caramelized onion paired with the earthy and slightly piney flavor of fresh rosemary and the pleasantly toasted notes of whole wheat elbows. 

Now imagine those ingredients cloaked in a fantastically creamy sauce made from Carr Valley Benedictine cheese – a delightful and intensely nutty washed rind cheese made from a combination of sheep, goat, and cow’s milk.

While this somewhat inventive version of the popular dish will probably not take you back to your mom’s kitchen, I promise it will give you that same creamy dreamy comfort food feeling in the depths of your belly.

Benedictine Mac & Cheese with Caramelized Onions & Rosemary

©BURP! Where Food Happens
Want more? Read Lo's latest ruminations at FOODCrush, her Milwaukee Magazine blog.

Rosemary's Smoky Baby Cheezy Mac

For me, macaroni and cheese is the epitome of comfort food. But, it seems I can't resist playing games with my basic recipe. Admittedly, sometimes my experiments flop. But, sometimes I happen upon something that's worth repeating.

The other night was one of those nights. It was on Friday, and both Peef and I had just finished a pretty hard week at work. The weather was rainy and cool. And we didn't have any plans, except snuggling up on the couch with some dinner and a good movie. The perfect sortofa night to slip into a steamy bowl of rich and creamy mac & cheeze.

Of course, one look at the kitchen counter showed me that we really needed to eat up a few cherry tomatoes. I knew I had a head of roasted garlic to use. And a glance toward the garden reminded me that the rosemary really needed a bit of a hair cut. So, I started to throw things together.

...
And so, Rosemary's Smoky Baby Cheezy Mac was born. You can thank Peef for the name.

This is one adult macaroni and cheese. Rich, dreamy, creamy, and herby. The rosemary really played well with the sweetness of the roasted garlic. And everything bowed before the slight smokiness of the Swiss cheese... which fell in love with the sweet wonder of the roasted cherry tomatoes. It's everything you'd want in late summer comfort food.

Make your own Rosemary's Smoky Baby Cheezy Mac

©BURP! Where Food Happens