Beecher's {World's Best} Mac & Cheese

Several years ago my mom sent me a recipe she ripped out of a magazine for Beecher's "World's Best" Mac & Cheese.  We share a love of this delicious comfort food, and no one does cheese better than this iconic Seattle cheese shop.  Since my mom was coming to visit this past weekend, I decided it was time to make this for her.  Though we got a late start after a long day of shopping, it was well worth the wait to have this gooey, cheesy dish for dinner.  Though you can buy it pre-made and frozen at the shop, it's so quick and easy to put together yourself - and nothing ever tastes as good as homemade.  It made the dinner even more special when we stopped by the shop the next day on our way to see Oklahoma at the 5th Avenue (so good!) and after sampling some more yummy cheeses, my mom walked away with some curds and crackers to take home.  Another wonderful mother/daughter weekend :)

Ingredients
Sauce
2 tblsp unsalted butter
3  ½ tblsp flour
1  ½ cups whole milk
7 oz Beecher's Flagship cheese, grated (about 1 ¾ cups)
1 oz Beecher's Just Jack cheese, grated (about ¼ cup)
1/2 tsp coarse salt
1/2 tsp chipotle chili powder
1/8 tsp garlic powder

Pasta
6 oz penne pasta
1 oz Beecher's Flagship cheese, grated
1 oz Beecher's Just Jack cheese, grated
1/2 tsp chipotle chili powder 


Instructions
1. To prepare sauce, melt butter in a heavy saucepan over medium heat.  Add flour.  Cook, whisking constantly 2 minutes.
2.  Slowly add milk, whisking constantly.  Cook until sauce thickens, about 10 minutes, stirring frequently.  Remove from heat.
3.  Add cheese,salt, chili powder, and garlic powder.  Stir until cheese melts, about 3 minutes.
4.  Preheat oven to 350F.
5.  To prepare pasta, cook pasta 2 minutes less than package directions (it will finish cooking in the oven).  Rinse pasta in cold water and drain well.
6.  Combine pasta and sauce in a medium bowl; mix thoroughly.  (The mixture will seem soupy, but some of the liquid will be absorbed during baking).  Transfer to an 8-inch square baking dish.  Sprinkle top with cheese and chili powder.
7.  Bake, uncovered, for 20 minutes.  Let stand 5 minutes before serving.  Serves 4.


Adapted from Pure Flavors: 125 Fresh All-American Recipes from the Pacific Northwest

 cheese sauce

 combining pasta and sauce

 topped with cheese and chili powder

 perfection

xoxo,
stephanie marie