A Southern Grace: not discomfortable

August 20, 2014

not discomfortable

Yum

I seem to be posting lots of comfort foods lately, but I promise you, I'm not uncomfortable. I'm not experiencing discomfort either.


These foods just happen to be what I find enjoyable to make and eat, and there's nothing wrong with that. This dish is especially meaningful to me because it's something I've eaten all my life--it's my mom's recipe and she prepared it for us quite often.

This version's a little bit different from any other mac and cheese I've ever scarfed down, as it's baked and the cheese just sits on top and doesn't permeate throughout; the stuff from that beloved blue box is a distant, distant cousin. It's amazingly easy to make--you don't have to fiddle with a cheese sauce or a roux, but the inside is still creamy, thanks to some egg and milk.


I may have made some changes of my own over the years, but the basic idea is Mammy's. She might not fully condone the things I've added (more sugar?!? nutmeg?!?), but I'd still call it a team effort.

Mammy's Mac & Cheese (with Peas!)
Serves 4-6
Ingredients:
  • 8 ounces (1/2 box) elbow pasta
  • 1 cup peas (frozen is fine)
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1-2 cups cheese of choice (I like a cheddar and pepper jack blend)
Directions:
Cook the pasta as directed to reach an al dente consistency; drain well.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 4-cup casserole dish.
Pour the drained pasta in the greased dish.
Sprinkle peas onto pasta.
In a small bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, sugar, mustard, salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
Pour this mixture over the pasta and peas in the dish.
Top the pasta with the cheese and bake for 30-45 minutes, or until nicely brown and crusty.


28 comments:

Julie said...

There is always room for great classic comfort foods with a twist!

Alicia Foodycat said...

That does sound supremely comforting!

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

That looks extremely comforting!

Cheers,

Rosa

Bianca @ Confessions of a Chocoholic said...

I love comfort foods year round too - especially the ones that my mom introduced to me. This looks yummy!

Angie's Recipes said...

Who doesn't love comfort food? This looks very satisfying and delicious, Grace.

All That I'm Eating said...

You can never go wrong with macaroni cheese!

Jessica @ Barefoot by the Sea said...

Looks delicious! Thanks for sharing :)

Beth said...

There's nothing like baked mac and cheese - it just doesn't compare to the boxed stuff at all! And you can't beat comfort food, in whatever form it takes.

Tania @My Kitchen Stories said...

Sounds like you've made some great changes. I love the peas too.

Heather said...

Oh, yum-peas in my mac and cheese are my favorite!

vanillasugarblog said...

so we should save this for the incoming winter? i swear with all this gorgeous summer weather i've forgotten (briefly) that I live in new england! true!

Pam said...

Comfort food is great any time, but esp. when the weather is stormy like it is here today. Don't think I've ever added sugar to mac and cheese, I'll try it!

Juliana said...

Comfort food are the best and they are welcome on my table at anytime...this looks delicious, creamy, cheesy and yes, peas!
Hope you are having a great week Grace :D

Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella said...

Hey it's cold here so I for one and loving comfort foods! :D Love family recipes too :)

Big Rigs 'n Lil' Cookies said...

I am sooo going to make this. I have always wanted a mac and cheese without the roux, without the sauce. Couldn't it be simpler? Oh woman, you have made me happy, happy, happy!

Pam said...

I love peas in my mac & cheese. It looks comforting and delicious!

Anonymous said...

Mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food! And everyone makes it slightly different. I love it.

Marjie said...

My oldest daughter would take issue with the peas, but this looks like a good version of a comforting classic. Tell people you're eating comfort foods in preparation for cooler fall weather!

Erica said...

What a wonderful and simple meal for a weeknight dinner. Love it!

Barbara said...

My mother would often make mac and cheese...just with macaroni, milk, butter and cheese. No peas or anything but salt and pepper. You reminded me...haven't thought about it in ages. I like the pea addition, Grace.
My favorite comfort food is tapioca!

Katerina said...

Mommy's food is the best! If the basis is strong then all the changes will be tasty as well. This is a perfect family meal!

Joanne said...

And now I REALLY want mac and cheese!

sandy said...

That has me drooling! I haven't had peas in mac and cheese, but they both rhyme and look delicious

lisa is cooking said...

A quicker way of making mac and cheese means mac and cheese more often! Love those pretty green peas nestled in there too.

Unknown said...

This looks amazing. I'm always in need of new mac & cheese recipes! And a touch of 'healthy' with the peas :)

Linda said...

Love the recipe and all comfort food

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Carolyn Jung said...

I like the idea of just putting the cheese on top. That way the top gets all crisp and crusty, which is always my fave part of a mac 'n' cheese anyway. ;)

I Wilkerson said...

This sounds sooo easy--going onto my must try list. So many of the homemade mac & cheese recipes I see are a bit too challenging for a dish that sounds like it should be easy.