Thursday, January 21, 2010

One for the Kids, Busy Moms, and a Crowd: Crockpot Macaroni and Cheese

Now this is a Southern-style recipe, everybody. Translation: fattening. I’m positive that there’s a low-fat Deep South cookbook out there—unfortunately, mine all date from the 1950s and 60s when a stick RileyAdamsFoodBlogPostpic_thumb_thumbof butter here and there was nothing to worry over.

I was also on the rotation yesterday evening for food preparation at Room at the Inn at Sardis Presbyterian church. Our church hosts the homeless one night each week, offering a warm, safe place to sleep, and supper and breakfast before transporting them to the Urban Ministry Center the following day.

I needed a lot of mac and cheese. Another lady and I were in charge of macaroni and cheese for 22 people. I doubled the recipe below. It doubles easily, which makes it perfect for any functions you need to bring a side dish to.

And I have hungry kids, too. All the time. So I added a little extra for my family to have before I took the container to the church.

Crock Pot Macaroni and Cheese010

1 8-oz pkg macaroni noodles (uncooked)
1 large can evaporated milk
1 1/2 C regular sweet milk
1/4 C melted butter or margarine
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 can cheddar cheese soup
3 C grated cheddar cheese
2 t oil

Cook macaroni, according to package directions. (Although 8 oz doesn’t seem like much when you’re cooking it, the noodles plump up when you cook them in the slow cooker.) Drain. Mix cooked noodles with 2 teaspoons of oil and mix well. Mix remaining ingredients, except for 1 1/2 cups of the cheddar cheese. Spray crock pot with cooking spray. Put noodles in the crock pot, 021reserving 1 1/2 cups of the noodles (to put on top later). Pour the mixture over the noodles. Top with the remainder of the cheddar cheese and noodles. Cook 4-6 hours on low (you might want to check it after 2…depending on your slow cooker. Don’t want the edges to start browning.

It will be a little gushy when you get it out. Okay, a lot gushy. But as it sits, it’ll improve.

020

Our cat, Shadow, watched me as I cooked. He thinks macaroni and cheese would be excellent for felines, too. :)

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18 comments:

  1. I'm seeing more and more crock pot dishes on various blogs. Now I wish I had one.
    Sam

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  2. What a wonderful thing to do for the homeless. I'll bet they appreciate home cooked food and this recipe looks pretty excellent. Thanks for sharing, I'll try this next time everyone is home.

    Shadow is gorgeous, btw.

    Julie

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  3. Sam--I get a lot of use out of mine. Sometimes the food is prettier than others, but it's very handy for when you'll be out of the house all day and need some soup or stew, etc. when you come back.

    Julie--I can't imagine being in their shoes. The carbs make it pretty filling, I think. And thanks for the compliment on Shadow. :) He thinks he's pretty, too....

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  4. Riley, what a lovely and generous thing to do for the homeless, especially in the vile weather we've been having. Mac and cheese must be a very welcome dish!

    I use my crockpot a lot. It's super for slow cooking meat. I've never tried a noodle dish, though!

    BTW, Shadow sent Mochie an email. Seems they'd both prefer more tuna dishes on our menus . . .

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  5. Julie, that is very exciting... congrats on the well earned award!

    And Mac and Cheese on a gray day in January! You betcha!

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  6. That's a fantastic recipe for feeding a lot of hungry people--and kudos to you for your volunteer work. I can't think of a better way to make use of a good, homecooked recipe than sharing it with people who haven't had any TLC in a long, long time. Have a great Thursday!

    ~Cleo

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  7. Krista--Those two have been emailing all morning, haven't they? I bought some tuna this very day--but I think I may have some other plans for it. Shadow would likely jump me if he knew...

    Dave--It IS gray, isn't it? Is there sun anywhere? I thought I lived in the sunny South, but I'm not seeing it...

    Cleo--Works well for covered-dish suppers and family reunions, too. Happy Thursday to you, too!

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  8. I've made many versions of mac & cheese, but I don't think I've ever tried it in the crockpot. What an easy way to make it!

    By the way, Shadow is beautiful!!

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  9. What a wonderful use of a crock-pot! I love mine. Good for you, E, for making a difference and giving folks who really need it an excellent meal.

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  10. I love my crockpot, too! And this sounds wonderful. I'm sure Shadow would have been in cat heaven had he gotten hold of some of this!

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  11. Janel--It really is easy. And when I prepare things in the morning for later I feel like I've already accomplished so much for the day!

    Jenn--And the nice thing is that the noodles get really plump and cheesy when you have them percolating in the crock pot all day!

    Shel--Crock Pots are great, aren't they? Yes, Shadow thought the dairy portion of this recipe was right down his alley! :)

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  12. When I think of Mac and Cheese, I think comfort food. Yours looks so good and creamy. That's a wonderful thing that you and your church do for the homeless.

    Shadow is so adorable.

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  13. I am so heartened where I hear of folks volunteering their time. Bless you for extending yourself to others like this.

    Mac 'n cheese a favorite with everyone, I think. This looks soooo creamy, cheesy good!

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  14. This sounds fabulous! Mac and cheese is my ultimate comfort food - and by definition, comfort food requires a generous helping of butter. I never even thought of making this in the crock-pot - I'll definitely have to try this.

    Did Shadow get a little taste? He's beautiful!

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  15. I cook something similar to this very often, it's one of the tastiest quick dishes, which leave everyone satisfied :)

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  16. I'm kinda new to cooking, so forgie me if this is a dumb question,but what is "sweet milk"?

    I really want to try this recipe, but want to make sure I'm using the right ingredients. =)

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  17. Hi J--That is kind of cryptic, isn't it? Sorry about that. Sweet milk is either an old-fashioned phrase or maybe a strictly Southern one, I'm not sure--it just refers to whole milk. Although, if you tried a reduced fat milk, I have a feeling it would be just fine!

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