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Grown Up Mac and Cheese
2007, Ina Garten, All Rights Reserved
Show:  Barefoot Contessa   
Episode:  Home Comforts
Overall User Rating: Overall User Rating


More than worth all the dirty pots
07/16/2008 at 06:42pm
User: Patty from Kirkland, WA    User Rating:
It was wonderful and worth all the messy pots and utensils.




Solid Dish
07/07/2008 at 05:52pm
User: Kerri from Denver, CO    User Rating:
I made this dish for a dinner party recently and it got great reviews from everyone. I used vanilla soy milk which was pretty ridiculous (in hindsight) but it was all I had on hand- in spite of it being a bit sweet- everyone enjoyed it and took second helpings. Agree that making this dish- as good as it is- creates one big mess. Price you pay for a new great take on mac n cheese.




What a treat!
07/04/2008 at 12:00am
User: Vicki from Rocklin, CA    User Rating:
Loved this dish, and won't do Mac 'n Cheese any other way now! True, it does dirty up a lot of pots, and true, it's a lot more than I think two people would usually eat, but it's worth every dirty pot and calories consumed! Yummmmmmmmmmm!




Add more milk . . .
06/16/2008 at 04:58pm
User: Steve from San Francisco, CA    User Rating:
This was great, but next time I'll use 3 cups of milk (and 2.5 tbsp of flour). I also added 1/8 tsp of cracked red pepper flakes to the bread slices, in the food processor. The amounts of cheese as listed does produce a perfectly fine balance of earthiness and tartness. But I'm a blue cheese nut, so I'll be using 3 or 4 ounces of the stuff next time. The amount of food this recipe yields is enough for 8 side-dish sized servings; or 4 or 5 heaping servings. (The recipe summary says this will serve 2. I'd enjoy seeing 2 people shovel down all this food in one sitting). It's tasty, yes, but you get a lot of food out of this one.




A winner, even with a few changes!
06/10/2008 at 07:47pm
User: Giovanna from Plano, TX    User Rating:
This is a great recipe! It's easy, even if does dirty up a lot of dishes. I added 1/2 a pound of shrimp and some sauteed mushrooms to make it more of a meal instead of just a side dish. If you want it to be creamier, increase the milk to 2 cups and only bake it long enough to brown the bread crumbs.




Great recipe to expand on
06/10/2008 at 06:10pm
User: Melissa from Atlanta, GA    User Rating:
I made this with whole wheat elbows, extra sharp cheddar cheese, some hot sauce and Worcestershire sauce and put panko bread crumbs on top - it came out fabulous!




rich mac & cheese
06/08/2008 at 12:57pm
User: pam from louisville, KY    User Rating:
I found the mac & cheese to have a wonderful adult bite. Loved the smooth and sharp bite. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm




The Best!
05/25/2008 at 05:28pm
User: Anonymous    User Rating:
I'm not usually a fan of mac and cheese, but loved the combination of cheeses along with the bacon flavor. Used 2% milk and Italian bread slices because that's what I had in the house and it was great. For us, this was a 2-serving recipe (big eaters). I doubled the recipe and re-heated half for a second night. I would serve this recipe to company in a heartbeat.




Unbelieveable!
04/06/2008 at 06:22pm
User: Anna from Atlanta, GA    User Rating:
This is one of my favorite recipes of all time! The sharp/bitter flavors of the cheeses where such a change from the average mac & cheese. Not to mention the basil was delicious also. I liked the fact that it wasn't super ooey & gooey like your typical baked mac, too. Such grown up flavors, I loved it!!




Delicious and filling
04/01/2008 at 03:47pm
User: kellie from north grafton, MA    User Rating:
I made this recipe for my husband a couple of weeks ago (at his request after watching the show with me) and he loved it. The blue cheese is not overwhelming as I thought it would be. The flavor of the cheeses meld together perfectly. The addition of bacon is perfect and the bread crumbs top it off nicely! As soon as he finished the leftovers, he asked me to make it again.




Oh my gosh
03/31/2008 at 12:33pm
User: Tracy from Winfield, IL    User Rating:
I made this for valentine's day for my boyfriend and it turned out amazing! I prepared it the night before and just popped it in the oven. It didn't take as long as the recipe called for, so keep your eye on it. THIS WAS DELICIOUS! I crave it daily.




A Hit!!!
03/25/2008 at 03:21pm
User: Percy from Old Bridge, NJ    User Rating:
First off, let me say I am not a great cook, but I am learning on my own nowadays - thanks to the Food Network. I tried this recipe as an addition to our Easter dinner and it was an instant hit. What had the family and guests buzzing was the 3 cheese blend. I will certainly do this again.




Rich!
03/24/2008 at 06:03pm
User: Diane from Bettendorf, IA    User Rating:
I loved this recipe. The first time I made it, I followed the recipe; the second time, I added a bit more milk and used less blue cheese. (It was a bit dry for my taste.) My husband loves this, too, and I had cravings for it after the first time I ate it.




One word...EXCELLENT!
03/22/2008 at 09:40pm
User: Tina from Waynesville, NC    User Rating:
This dish is absolutely delicious! I love the combination of cheeses. My entire family loved it...kids included. If you cannot find Gruyere, substitute Jarlsberg, it gives you the same kick. I also prefer Gorgonzola over blue cheese. Our combination of sharp cheddar, Gruyere and Jarlsberg is so creamy and smooth that even my picky 3 year old couldn't stop eating it! This one is a keeper!!!




different but good.
03/21/2008 at 07:09pm
User: Sarah from grandville, MI    User Rating:
if you're expecting creamy mac and cheese, you better just stick to your velveta. my husband and i loved this recipe. the different cheeses make this recipe interesting. the bread crumbs and basil topping really make this dish. i made mine without he bacon. i think next time, i might add some more salt.




Didn't like it
03/19/2008 at 12:41pm
User: Anonymous    User Rating:
I usually LOVE Ina's recipes, but this one was not very good. It was not creamy or flavorful. With all that cheese, it still was bland. Mac and cheese is meant to be creamy, not dry like this recipe!




a recipie to keep
03/17/2008 at 07:59pm
User: null from null, null    User Rating:
My husband and I LOVE this recipie. It is delicious and super easy to make. A special treat. Next time I'll try it without the bacon for my vegetarian in-laws..




Decadent and easy
03/09/2008 at 09:16pm
User: Holly from Murray, KY    User Rating:
Delicious and easy--not dry at all. I wouldn't sub out the cheeses; the combo of distinct flavors is essential. It's a lot of food for two people, but my husband polished off the gratin dish and I had to forcibly stop myself.




Delicious but VERY RICH!!
03/09/2008 at 09:16pm
User: Anonymous    User Rating:
This recipe was delicious, but obviously (as you can tell from the ingedients) it was very rich. The recipe lists as being for two servings, but we got five generous servings from it. I really liked the bread crumbs with basil topping. The basil adds an interesting dimension.




I prefer Kraft Mac & Cheese over this recipe
03/09/2008 at 08:45pm
User: Anonymous    User Rating:
I just made it for a guest and he wouldn't even eat it. not enough salt and really boring on the flavor side. I'm very disappointed; and another thing it was not very easy to make.




Mac And Cheese.
03/08/2008 at 05:07pm
User: Lidiana from Tampa, FL    User Rating:
Hola mi nombre es lidiana. soy una almiradora de food network,me encanta cosinar y hacer diferentes platos tipico de mi pais cuba. Pero les digo algo me encanta la reseta de Mac and cheese esta deliciosa es el plato preferido de mi esposo,por eso yo le doy no 10 estrellas.gracias




Ina's Mac & Cheese
03/01/2008 at 10:44am
User: Robin from Boise, ID    User Rating:
As always, Ina's recipes are perfect. I like the different cheeses and how easy this is.




Can you make this ahead?
02/28/2008 at 03:17pm
User: Anonymous    User Rating:
Just wondering if you can make this dish ahead of time?




great comfort food
02/26/2008 at 06:13pm
User: rick from kansas city, MO    User Rating:
This has become a staple at my house. I made it for a super bowl party and I had to emailing the recipe to everyone who attended the party. I thought it required more time and effort than I thought it would, but It gets easier the more you make it. I did substitute cheeses and it still tasted incredible.




HUSBAND HAPPY
02/25/2008 at 02:16pm
User: Darlene from Mobile, AL    User Rating:
My husband is never really happy when I tell him that we are trying out a new recipe, than I tell him that its the only thing we are having for dinner. But I have to say that he really love this mac and chesse. It did not take very long to put together and its makes a lot. It will easly feed 4.




Fabulous!!
02/22/2008 at 08:40pm
User: Janice from Bellingham, WA    User Rating:
For the reviewer who wrote "eeeeee"; not helpful. For the reviewer who thought this was dry; perhaps your cooking technique? This is a fabulous, easy, and different mac and cheese recipe. Will use again and again. Thanks, Ina!




Um, Um, Um!!!!!!!
02/22/2008 at 07:29pm
User: Jessie from Carolina, PA    User Rating:
WheN Ina was doing this recipe it really look easy and delicious, so I try it at home and my family was surprised and deligthed by the Mac and Cheese plate. I recomend it. We love it.




Meshell
02/21/2008 at 12:54pm
User: michelle from marietta, GA    User Rating:
It was awesome and I have to be gluthen free I used rice elbows...awesome




Hearty & Heavenly
02/21/2008 at 12:51pm
User: Kelly from Shorewood, WI    User Rating:
This makes two very filling servings. My only substitution was Panko bread crumbs for the fresh. Added Wisconsin's smokiest bacon, Nueske's, and extra-sharp white cheddar. Add a salad and it makes a cold snowy night comfy.




Not Quite Right
02/20/2008 at 08:33pm
User: Anna from Madison, AL    User Rating:
I love mac n cheese and I normally love Ina's recipes; however, this one just didn't quite do it for me. The texture was a little off...not as creamy as I expected based on the creaminess of the sauce before I added the pasta. I was a little surprised because it combined some of my favorite cheeses (bleu cheese!), but the flavors weren't as strong as I hoped. So, overall, I would look for a different recipe for mac n cheese or make some adjustments.




eeeewwww
02/20/2008 at 06:51pm
User: Anonymous    User Rating:
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww




the best!!
02/20/2008 at 05:08pm
User: Anonymous    User Rating:
had this for dinner last night and wow was it a hit! i loved it, my husband really loved it, and my very picky step son couldn't get enough. cannot wait to make this again. love ya, ina!




Absolutely Delicious!
02/20/2008 at 01:47pm
User: EDWARD from Norwalk, CT    User Rating:
I served this for casual company on Monday afternoon. It was a huge hit. Wonderful flavors. If I would do anything differently next time it would be to cut back a bit on the salt, and maybe a little on the blue cheese. But this is definitely a keeper!




Dry
02/18/2008 at 11:14pm
User: Genia from rancho santa margarita, CA    User Rating:
This recipe was dry and wasnt creamy at all.




Best Ever
02/12/2008 at 10:03pm
User: Nancy from Henderson, NV    User Rating:
This recipe is the beyond words. I've made it several times since seeing it on food network. Can't wait to make it for my son's when they visit. Ina's recipes are always the best. Love you and your show.




THE BEST
02/12/2008 at 09:52pm
User: nancy from Henderson, NV    User Rating:
I've made this mac and cheese my husband just loves it, me too. Can't wait to make it for my son's when they come to visit us. Have made it about 4 times since it was on tv. I just love all the receipe's that Ina makes. Love her show.




Oh my God!!
02/11/2008 at 05:20pm
User: Katherine from Platte City, MO    User Rating:
Ina, This recipe was absolutely wonderful!! I will be making it again and again. I'm even planning on making it for my extended family at our next group dinner.




not good eats
02/10/2008 at 06:57pm
User: gregg from rock hill, SC    User Rating:
not good eats




Deeeeeeelicious!
02/09/2008 at 06:51pm
User: Anonymous    User Rating:
I left out the blue cheese - im not a fan & used pancetta instead of regular bacon. Lovely!!!




yum yum
02/08/2008 at 05:54pm
User: Anonymous    User Rating:
simply lovely




sounded good, tasted great
02/06/2008 at 09:49pm
User: Anonymous    User Rating:
this was easy to make, and tasted even better than I thought it would. Don't think I'll be making regular mac and cheese for a while, can't wait to make it for company. I used one dish in stead of two to bake it in. the two individual servings would have been way too much for us.




incredible
02/06/2008 at 06:21am
User: Anonymous    User Rating:
I made this for the SuperBowl. It was incredible. The gruyere cheese makes all the difference.




Best Mac n Cheese We've Ever Eaten
02/05/2008 at 01:58pm
User: Lori from Mill Creek, WA    User Rating:
I left out the bacon, and this was just delicious. I was worried my twin 10-year olds wouldn't like it, as it is really rich, but we all loved it. My husband said this was by far the best he'd ever had.




Will work for a potluck - very good
01/31/2008 at 10:58pm
User: Sara from Davis, CA    User Rating:
This mac and cheese with a twist is tasty, and the recipe is easy to follow. I warmed the milk in a cereal bowl in the microwave to save dirtying another saucepan; several pots and pans are already needed for this dish. The next time I make it, I will be sure to spritz the baking dishes with nonstick spray, and I'll switch the proportions of gruyere and cheddar (just a matter of personal preference).




Perfection
01/30/2008 at 08:48pm
User: Anonymous    User Rating:
I just made this dish and it is so good!! It deserves 6 stars!




Excellent
01/28/2008 at 07:01pm
User: Anonymous    User Rating:
I used less than an ounce of the blue cheese. My son is not a big fan of it. You could still taste it, but it wasn't as strong as if I used the full 2 oz. I also used the low carb pasta called Dreamfields. This stuff works great in recipes that call for pasta - and it doesn't raise my blood sugar levels. I would definitely make this one again -just with less blue cheese. Bacon rocks in it too. Ina is the best!




grown up Mac & cheese
01/28/2008 at 04:20pm
User: Mary from Berkley, MI    User Rating:
Yum Yum!So easy to put together. Just creamy enough and to top it off a delicious topping




Yummy mac and cheese
01/27/2008 at 11:19pm
User: Diane from Folsom, CA    User Rating:
Another wonderful recipe from Ina. This mac and cheese is yummy. My husband and I enjoyed it and I will definitly make it again. It's going in my recipe file.




Oh SOOoooo Good !
01/27/2008 at 08:39pm
User: ADENNA from Lodi, CA    User Rating:
This is a fabulous and pretty easy dish...the flavors are great and the topping is not to be left out; it's worth it and do it like she says...no canned bread crmbs ! The roqefort made the sauce and although its a recipe for 2 main dish servings, I just doubled it and made it in a regular casserole dish and it was wonderful as a side for 6-8 people ! Yummmmmm-YYY !~!




Amazing!
01/26/2008 at 11:48pm
User: Tara from Cherry Hill, NJ    User Rating:
What a great winter meal, and with the blend of cheeses and bacon, it really adds a gourmet taste to the traditional mac and cheese!




Slight change....
01/26/2008 at 01:58pm
User: Anonymous    User Rating:
This was a very good version of mac and cheese. To save a few calories I used canadian bacon instead of regular bacon. I sliced the cb very thin and sauteed it in a dry skillet to brown it a bit and bring out the smokey flavor. I used 1% milk and a reduced fat cheddar, but stuck with full fat blue cheese and gruyere. I thought the basil bread crumb topping was so good. Will for sure be making again.




Another home run Ina!
01/25/2008 at 10:25pm
User: Anonymous    User Rating:
This recipe the way it was written was perfect! I like it when people review a recipe....what I don't like is when people change it and then rate it. You can't rate a recipe if you change it. "I put pancetta instead of bacon."...bla bla bla... shut up and cook what the chefs are telling you. People just do the recipes the way they are written stop changing it like you know what you are doing and then writing about it.




Fantastic
01/25/2008 at 04:02pm
User: Emily from Dallas, TX    User Rating:
I'm eating right now and it's totally decadant and delicious! I used pancetta instead of bacon, penne pasta instead of elbows, and I omitted the basil. (I felt that it would interfere with the strong flavors of the cheeses.) You've GOT to try this!




easy cheesey
01/25/2008 at 12:03pm
User: Mary from estill springs, TN    User Rating:
easy to fix, delicious combination of cheeses excellent baked bacon and husband approval




Fantastic Mac 'N Cheese
01/19/2008 at 01:58pm
User: Anonymous    User Rating:
Fantastic! Easy and Wonderful!!!