I recommend a traditional box grater for grating the cheese. The white cheddar gives a nice tangy lushness to the sauce, but the Jarlsberg ( recommended by Poole’s) is the standout in this dish and elevates this old fashioned mac and cheese, giving it a sophisticated flavor. In addition to Parmegiano Reggiano, we’re also using sharp white cheddar and real Jarlsberg. If you see that – it’s the REAL DEAL Other cheeses for 3 cheese mac and cheese The cheese producers have labeled their wheels with “Parmigiano Reggiano” stamped in little pin pricks all around the perimeter. To check for authenticity, look for a wedge that includes the outside rind. In fact, several years ago I had a sampling of parmigiano reggiano that had been aged from 1-5 years - you could see and taste the difference. It’s real cheese and its aged longer than other wannabes. Real Parmegiano Reggiano doesn’t have any fillers. I swear I didn’t used to be a cheese snob… until I read this… Many industrial produced “parmesans” have fillers and anti-clumping agents made from wood pulp. Buy a few real chunks of cheese and grate them yourself. Fine if your using them for an omelette, but they’ll make your cheese sauce grainy. Pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents, so the grated shards won’t stick together in the package. (If you don’t have it ready made in the fridge, you can skip it, this time… but use it for the next batch).įor the ultimate mac and cheese, start with whole chunks of cheese… not that pre-packaged, pre-grated stuff. It’s mellow and smooth - and plays very nicely in this particular sandbox. I also add a little garlic confit, which is essentially garlic without the sting. My version of their recipe uses some of the classic seasonings you’ll find in many mac and cheese recipes… dry mustard, white pepper and cayenne. Their’s is a simple, but decadent, old fashioned mac and cheese without embellishment. This recipe was inspired by the Macaroni Au Gratin recipe from the Poole’s Diner Cookbook and it’s a doozy. Parsley (to make it look healthier than it is).Ingredients for ultimate creamy, cheesy mac and cheese If you’ve got more people or bigger appetites, double the recipe. Consequently, when I make it, I made a small batch. Before we get into specifics, I want to preface this by saying there’s only 2 people in my house - and this ultimate mac and cheese doesn’t keep in the refrigerator.

Mac and cheese recipe for two