The Story:
A lot of people think that I’m into fancy food because I’m a food blogger. Friends are afraid to let me to taste their dishes because I’ll think it’s awful, neighbors say “We would have brought something but it wouldn’t be up to your standards.” I’ve even had boys say to me “I don’t know where to take you for dinner because you’ll just critique it and then hate me.” First of all, I’m not annoying enough to sit there and give my professional opinion on a dish during a date and SECOND my favorite foods are not fancy at all. Burgers, hot dogs and macaroni and cheese.
What can I say, I’m a Northwest gal who loves my Tillamook EVERYTHING! Though my favorite product would have to be their ice cream. Me, a spoon and that ice cream is a perfect night.
You don’t have to use white cheddar, if you prefer the orange cheese you can always do that!
Sun Dried Tomato Macaroni & Cheese with Bacon
Ingredients
- 1 lb. 16 oz Macaroni pasta
- 2 Tbsp. butter
- 2 Tbsp. flour
- 2 C. milk
- 1 tsp. pepper more if needed
- 16 oz. white cheddar cheese grated
- 8.5 oz. jar of Sun Dried Tomatoes a little less or a little more won't matter much
- 12 strips of bacon cooked and chopped
Instructions
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1. Heat a large pot of water, once it reaches a boil add pasta. Don't stir too much! Cook until al dente (still have a little 'bite") and drain out the water.
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2. While pasta is cooking, in a large sauce pan melt butter.
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3. Add flour and whisk to make a paste.
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4. Add milk and pepper and whisk to remove any lumps. Let cook for 2 minutes to remove the flour-y taste.
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5. Add grated cheese and stir until smooth.
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6. Add sun dried tomatoes (drain off most of the olive oil but don't rinse them) and chopped bacon.
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7. Pour the sauce over your cooked macaroni and top with extra bacon crumbles!
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NOTES: Some times cooking can be tricky because the order of things. Here is the order in which I prepared everything...
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1. Put my large pot of water for pasta on heat.
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2. Cooked bacon and chopped it.
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3. Grated cheese
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4. Put my pasta in the now bubbling water.
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5. Started my sauce while watching my pasta!
This was amazing, a perfect grown-up and classy version of a childhood classic!
Lizzy, you don’t bake your mac-n-cheese?
You can bake this if you want to! For me, by the time the cheese is all stirred in I can’t wait another minute to eat!
A bit a heaven on earth! Yum!!!!! I love Tillamook too!
I just discovered Tillamook Vintage White cheese this past weekend, I fell in love at first taste. <3 I will be trying this recipe very soon. Yum!!!!
Thank you for listing the order of cooking things! I struggle with making sure everything is ready when I need it. 🙂
oh goodness me my house of boys will love this!
Omg can we be friends? People say that silly stuff to me too. Btw pineapple cupcake amazing!
This sounds amazing. A new must try for this household!!!
I made this recipe and it turned out good, but I subbed Jennie O turkey bacon and did about 2/3 sharp cheddar and 1/3 Tillamook Extra Sharp white cheddar. I couldn’t find the vintage white cheddar, but I never tried this flavor by Tillamook before and was pleasantly surprised! The next time I make, this I will almost double the sauce and make sure to use 100% EXTRA sharp Tillamook white cheddar (hopefully the “vintage”, if I can find it). Thanks for sharing. I’m sure this will be a hit at our upcoming family get-together!
Absolutely agree with your take on comfort food. sometimes the simplest dishes hold the most satisfaction. Your love for Tillamook shines through; I can almost taste the creamy goodness of their ice cream.
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