Apple Cider Macaroni and Cheese

Fall is a great time for comforting dishes. It's hard to beat the combination of fresh apples and good cheese. The alchemy of the creamy and nutty cheese, bright sweet apple, and rich golden onions elevates this dish from standard comfort food to the sublime. I have never seen gouda or swiss for more than $12 a pound, and cheddar is usually $8 per pound or less around here; I spent under $10 for the cheese in this dish. The pasta costs about $2, and making this dish costs less than $20.

This recipe specifically calls for California cheese due to the guidelines posted here.

Ingredients:

1 lb Barilla plus elbow pasta
1/2 lb California cheddar, any variety you prefer (I like to use white for this dish)
1/4 lb California gouda
1/4 lb California swiss (try to find a firm, nutty variety)
1 medium fuji apple
1 medium yellow onion
4-5 T butter
1 C apple cider, preferably fresh from a local orchard
1 1/2 C local milk, 2% or whole
1/4 C unbleached all purpose flour
1/2 t dried thyme
whole nutmeg (you won't use the whole thing)
black pepper
salt


For those of you who say "eewwwwwww sweet fruit with macaroni and cheese?  Gross!"

– don't knock it until you try it.

Step 1: Cook pasta

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add pasta. Barilla Plus pasta has a lovely nutty taste, a firm texture, and added nutritional benefits. It does come in 14.5 oz packages, so you'll want to add a little more than one package. Cook macaroni until firm al dente. Pour into a colander to drain water, return to pot, and set aside.

I neglected to take pictures of a pot of boiling water or cooking pasta.  Sorry.

Comments

[Everlong]

Wow, I love this idea. My sister has a Mac-off each year with a couple of friends and I think this sounds like a winner! Thanks for the Instructable :)

[neo.Ang3L]

dovresti aggiungere due cucchiai di aceto balsamico nel soffritto e farlo sfumare insieme alle mele, il risultato è eccellente. ciao!!

[supersoftdrink]

I'll bet balsamic vinegar would be great added to the onions and apples. Thanks!

[laylia11]

I made this today and it was absolutely fantastic! Great 'ible! I mulled my own cider, and used a red delicious apple instead of fuji because I had one lying around. The apple takes on a sweet/savory kind of flavor when cooked with the onion, really well complemented by the blend of cheeses. Ham would go very well with this dish.

[supersoftdrink]

yay! :) I'm glad you liked it.

[Jayefuu]

This looks really tasty!

[kcls]

Looks excellent!