So my goal for 2012 is to learn to cook. (Probably something I should have learned by now.) Considering I used to eat that microwavable Easy Mac and considered any other macaroni to be “hard mac” I figured this was a good recipe to start off with. It’s definitely a tasty treat and perfect for Super Bowl Sunday snacking.
Mini Mac and Cheese Pies (makes 8)
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups Ritz crackers, crushed (I threw mine in a food processor)
2 cups white cheddar cheese, grated and divided
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
4 1/2 cups cooked elbow macaroni (about 8 ounces uncooked)
One 5.2-ounce container of Boursin Garlic and Herb cheese
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold
2 large eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup sour cream
1/4 teaspoon salt
Parsley, for garnish, optional
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Generously spray 8 cups of your muffin pan with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, combine the crushed Ritz crackers, 1 cup of the shredded white cheddar cheese, and the melted butter, mixing well until the mixture holds together and resembles coarse sand. Divide the mixture among the 8 muffin cups and, using your fingers or the back of a spoon, firmly press the crust into the bottoms and up the sides of each muffin cup.
In another large bowl, combine the cooked (and still hot!) macaroni with 1/2 cup of the shredded white cheddar, the Boursin cheese, and the butter, mixing well.
In a small bowl, combine the eggs, milk, sour cream, salt, and red pepper flakes, mixing well. Add the egg/milk mixture to the cooked macaroni, mixing until all the ingredients are melted and smooth.
Place about 2-3 tablespoons of the macaroni mixture into each muffin cup (you will probably have a little leftover macaroni). Top each muffin cup with the remaining white cheddar. Bake the mac and cheese pies until lightly golden on top, about 20-25 minutes.
Let cool slightly before removing from the muffin pan, garnish with parsley, and serve immediately.
