Author : StephenBlackmon21 November 2014

Mac’& Cheese Plus

Ingredients:

1 16oz Box Elbow Macaroni
1 8oz Package Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese
1 8oz Package Italian Blend (white) Cheese
1 14oz Package of Hillshire Farm Hotlinks or Beef Hotlinks
4 Eggs
2 Cups Milk or Heavy Cream (do NOT use Heavy Whipping Cream)
1 Stick of Salted Butter
Salt
Black Pepper
Garlic Pepper
Crushed Red Pepper
Chipotle Chili Powder

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Fill a large pot or basin with hot water and bring to a boil. Add salt.

Once at a hard boil, add 2/3rds of your elbow macaroni to the water, stirring as you add. Noodles should boil for approximately 15 minutes. Test. Do not overcook the elbow macaroni. The noodles should be full size, but firm, not mushy. Drain in colander.

Cut 3 or 4 Hillshire Farm Hotlinks into 1/4 inch discs. Fry cut sausage in a shallow frying pan with a pad of butter for 8 minutes. Season with black pepper and Chipotle Chili Power as they fry. Remove from heat.

Take drained noddles and pour enough macaroni into a 9×12 glass baking dish to make a layer 1 to 2 noodles high. You should still be able to see a little of the bottom of the dish.

Spread half of your fried hotlink slices onto the noddles. Adjust so that sausage is evenly distributed.

Add a 4oz layer of Italian Blend Cheese (half the bag). Then add a 4 oz. Layer of Sharp Cheddar Cheese.

Add 6 pads of butter dispersed evenly across the dish. Season the layer with Salt, Garlic Pepper, Black Pepper, Chipolte Chili Powder and a very few Crushed Red Pepper Flakes (optional).

Next duplicate the last few steps, adding another layer of Elbow Macaroni, Sausage, both cheeses, and spices. Use 9 pads of butter this time making sure you get some in the corners.

In a separate midsize bowl, mix (with a fork) your 4 eggs and 2 cups of milk or heavy cream. Carefully pour this liquid evenly into your baking dish on top of your compiled macaroni and cheese.

Bake at 400 degrees for 40 minutes. You should have boiling butter, browning cheese and hardening tips to any exposed macaroni noodles when it’s done.

Give the dish at least 15 minutes to cool before serving.

Do you have a great macaroni & cheese recipe? Let us know below.