Crockpot Mac & Cheese...Seriously!

Hello Tuesday...Going for the herbal tea this morning. GET LOST tea by Republic of Tea to be exact. Really does help with suppressing my appetite. Kids off to school, housekeeper lined out. Dinner, something easy for crockpot again as Bear has a solo in the Spring Show tonight. So proud of her. Prayers for her today as she is very nervous about her stage performance.

Dinner...oh yes, dinner. What is in the freezer? Then off to Lowes to look at outdoor lounge chairs for the lake house. Then to work at the store for a few hours.

I Have to share this recipe with you before I leave today! Over the weekend I purchased Trisha Yearwood's second cookbook, "Home Cooking with Trisha Yearwood" and it's is a beautiful book. I could hardly wait to try something from it.

 

I decided to make the Crockpot Mac & Cheese only I used her suggestion for the oven because my crockpot was being used for my pot roast. I will have to share my pot roast recipe with you sometime too. Anyway, here you go...

Trisha Yearwood's Crockpot Mac & Cheese!

8 ounces elbow macaroni, cooked (gluten-free or whole wheat if you choose)

One 12 ounce can evaporated milk

1 1/2 cups whole milk (I used 2%)

2 large eggs, beaten

1/4 cup (1/2 stick)butter, melted

1 teaspoon salt

Dash of pepper

Two 10 ounce blocks of sharp cheddar cheese, grated(about 5 cups)

Dash of Paprika

Crockpot Method:

In a large 4-quart crockpot sprayed with cooking spray, mix the macaroni, milks, eggs, butter, salt pepper, and all but 1/2 cup grated cheese. Sprinkle the reserved cheese over the top of the mixture and then sprinkle with paprika. Cook on low heat for three hours and 15 minutes. Turn off the crockpot, stir the mixture, and serve hot.

Oven Method:

Grease a 9x13x2 inch pan with butter and add the mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes. Please note that the recipe says to precook the macaroni. I have to be honest and say that I did not see that until afterwards as I was preoccupied with a friend's new baby while preparing this dish. Soooooooo, I followed the above directions literally. So, when it said to "mix the macaroni, milk, eggs, etc." I mixed it altogether, uncooked Mac and all and it turned out great!  My only complaint from family was that it was a little dry. Obviously due to the fact that the uncooked noodles soaked up all the liquid. An easy problem to correct I think, just add a little more liquid. Probably regular milk so that you dont have to open another can of evaporated milk. I will try that next time I am craving Mac & Cheese. I have a feeling I will be making it alot over the summer as my oldest daughter is home from college and that is a favorite of hers. Enjoy!