Kicked Up Macaroni and Cheese (1st Place) by Heather Ward, Ankeny, IA
Posted by Malt-O-Meal on January 7th 2009 in State Fair Recipes 2008
- 9 tbsp of unsalted butter
- ½ pound elbow macaroni
- 1 pound homemade-style spicy pork sausage
- 1 cup chopped yellow onions
- ½ cup chopped green bell peppers
- 1 tbsp essence spice + 2 teaspoons divided
- ½ tbsp anise seeds
- 4 tsp minced garlic
- ½ cup all purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tbsp ground black pepper
- 1/8 tsp cayenne
- 3 cups whole milk
- 3 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
- 1½ cup finely crushed Malt-O-Meal Crispy Rice (divide)
Preheat oven to 350°. Butter a large casserole dish with 1 tbsp of the butter and set aside. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the macaroni and cook until aldente, about 10 min. Drain in a colander and rinse under cold running water. Drain well. In a large skillet, cook sausage stirring, until brown and the fat is rendered. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Pour off all but 1 tbsp of fat from the pan.
Add the onions and essence (1 tbsp) and cook, stirring, over medium high heat until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the anise seeds and cook stirring for 1 min. Remove from the heat. Melt the remaining stick of butter in a large heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and stirring constantly with spoon, cook over medium heat until thick, 3 to 4 min. Being careful not to let the flour brown.
Using the whisk, add the milk in a steady stream and cook, whisking constantly, until thick and smooth, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat. Add the salt, pepper, cayenne, 2 cups of sharp cheddar cheese and 1/2 cup Crispy Rice, add the noodles, cooked sausage and vegetable, and stir well to combine. Pour into the prepared baking dish. In a mixing bowl, combine the remaining cup of cheese and 1 cup of the Malt-O-Meal Crispy Rice and remaining 2 tsp of spice essence. Sprinkle over the macaroni and bake until golden brown and bubbly, about 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
Spice Essence:
- 2½ tbsp paprika
- 2 tbsp salt
- 2 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tbsp dried leaf oregano
- 1 tbsp dried thyme
Combine all the ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container. Enjoy!
