MACARONI AND CHEESE DELUXE
I began with the recipe off the back of Kraft's box. As with almost all recipes, I can never let well enough alone! I had to mix up the pasta, change proportions, and add Tabasco (of course!). The result is ten times better than Kraft's version!
1 cup tubular pasta (ziti, penne, elbos etc.)
1 package Kraft Deluxce Macaroni and Cheese
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 1/2 cups milk
3/4 cup sour cream
1/4 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1 tablespoon dry bread crumbs -- optional
Preheat oven to 350 degrees; grease a 2-quart casserole or baking dish. Cook tubular pasta plus the elbows from the Kraft's package in boiling salted water with olive oil* added until al dente; drain and rinse* with hot tap water and drain again thoroughly. Transfer drarined pasta to a large mixing bowl. Add the contents of Kraft's cheese packet; mix well. Stir in milk, sour cream and Tabasco; mix well. Pour mixture into prepared casserole; sprinkle with cheese, and then breadcrumbs if using. Bake 35-40 minutes or until lightly browned and bubbling.
* Normally, I don't add olive oil to pasta water, nor do I normally rinse it after cooking; however, in this case, these steps prevent the finished dish from getting really gummy.

Copyright © 2002 Carol Stevens, Shaboom's Kitchen, All Rights Reserved