Flay's Mac And Cheese

A little dip in temperature is enough to get the belly signaling for comfort food that sticks to the ribs.

Classic macaroni and cheese definitely fits the bill. Yet, when the mac and cheese is prepared by Chef Bobby Flay, the king of culinary surprises, one can only expect an explosive sensation of taste.

For The Early Show, Flay prepares a four-cheese macaroni and cheese, jazzed up with roasted garlic and white truffle oil or green chili-cilantro and serves it in individual crocks.

The Recipes

Classic Four Cheese Macaroni and Cheese
Serves: 6

Ingredients:

1 pound elbow macaroni
Salt
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 tablespoons all purpose flour
2 cups hot whole milk
1 teaspoon ground white pepper
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
3/4 cup grated fontina
3/4 cup grated Gruyere
3/4 cup grated extra sharp Cheddar cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup bread crumbs

Method:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bring 6 quarts of water to a boil. Add the salt and re-boil before adding the pasta. Cook the pasta according to the package directions; about 8-10 minutes.
• While the pasta is cooking, heat the butter over medium heat in a saucepan until it begins to bubble but do not let it brown. Whisk in the flour to create a roux for the white-sauce base. Cook the flour and butter, over low heat, for 5 to 7 minutes, add the hot milk in a steady stream. Cook the white sauce for 10 minutes. Add the salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, gruyere, cheddar and fontina cheeses and cook for 2 minutes over low heat.
• Drain the pasta and place into a baking casserole dish large enough to hold the pasta and all of the sauce. Add the cheese sauce by pouring over the top. Sprinkle the breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese over the top and bake for 15 minutes or until the top is well-browned and crusty. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

Roasted Garlic & White Truffle Oil
Serves: 6

Ingredients:

1 recipe Classic Four Cheese Macaroni & Cheese
1 head roasted garlic, peeled and pureed
2 tablespoons truffle oil

Method:

Whisk in roasted garlic along with the cheese in step 2 of above recipe. Bake as instructed and drizzle white truffle oil over top of the baked macaroni just before serving.

Green Chile-Cilantro
Serves: 6

1 recipe Classic Four Cheese Macaroni & Cheese
2 poblano chiles, roasted, peeled and finely diced
1/4 cup chopped cilantro

Whisk in diced chiles and cilantro along with the cheese in step 2 of the above recipe. Bake as instructed.