Extremely Creamy Stovetop Sriracha Macaroni and Cheese for SRC
June 4, 2012 at 12:00 pm | Posted in Asian, Dinner, Lunch, Pasta | 59 CommentsTags: BUTTER, Cheddar Cheese, Cream, Mac N Cheese, Macaroni and Cheese, Milk, roux, Sriracha, Sriracha Macaroni and Cheese, Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese
I know, three posts in a little over week. Every three days, I’ve had a post up. It feels like an assembly line of mediocrity (the Ego Lights haven’t been throwing me a cookie or two as of late). That said, I like to let each post I put up marinate a little before putting up a new one, so that’s part of the reason why I don’t post a few times a week, but, in this case.. I had a lot of catching up to do.
It won’t remain this way because I need a break for a few days. It probably takes me like 8 hours to get a post up because without natural light, each photo needs a lot of post processing, not to mention, I shoot hundreds of photos to increase my chances of getting a few that make it past auditions. Then I need to go over them with whoever is in the mood to help me sift through identical photos with a fine-toothed comb, and find one that looks just a little better than the others, namely, my masculine counterpart.
“OK, which one out of these 40 photos, that are almost identical, looks the sharpest? Which one really showcases the food the best?”
“Lisa, they all look the same, seriously”
“NO, the piece of chive, all the way to the left, in back, in that one, isn’t as sharp as the piece of chive in this one! Can’t you see that??”
That, in itself, is a two-hour ordeal.
Then, writing the post – I don’t think I have to elaborate on that. When I’m adding one of my BBFL memoirs, add another day, or week, plus an hour or two, to the 8 – unless I hit the deep zone. The deep zone is where I sort of astral-project myself back to those teen and young adult years, and I’m reliving it – in it, as I type it. As you would expect, I prefer to write about it in that zone. It’s a zone I cannot be broken out of until I’m finished. Hard to hit that zone very often with work and life in the way - hence the stories being weeks apart most of the time.
It’s funny, for someone who is still using free wordpress.com with the same theme I chose in 2008, and the same ugly header I’ve also used from the start, I’m sure picky about every other detail, huh?
I will be self-hosting and redesigning my blog at some point, but for now, I’m kind of comfy in my old, worn jammies.
Of course you can make it without the Sriracha. It’s delicious either way.
Speaking of comfy, For this month’s Secret Recipe Club, I was assigned the blog Quick and Easy, Cheap and Healthy. I think every word in that title is the antithesis of my blog. BUT, I loved her blog, especially a section called ‘Better Than The Box’ which basically means your favorite boxed foods like JELL-O or cookies, made from scratch. Once I saw this Mac ‘n Cheese, it was all over for me. Comfort food at it’s best.
At first, I was eyeing these sweet potato peel fries, in her Food Waste Fridays post (love all the cool ideas, sections, and tips she has) using the flesh of the sweet potato to make her sweet potato rice pudding, from one of her Secret Recipe Club assignments. A great way to use the whole sweet potato – BUT, again, once I saw the Stovetop Mac ‘n Cheese – it was love at first sight, and you can’t ignore love at first sight, even if it is only food and food probably won’t be sending you flowers or spooning you in bed. However, you will be spooning it…. into your mouth – or forking, whatever.
One thing that caught my eye was the use of honey mustard in lieu of dijon or regular mustard, which is usually the norm. I call this the ‘secret’ ingredient that really makes it pop. An underlying bit of sweetness that doesn’t affect the macaroni cheese flavor you’re used to, but makes you ponder it;
“Hmmm..what is it that’s making this taste even better?”
Not to mention, this is one creamy Mac n’ Cheese (I call it better than Boston Market, K or Annie’s O mac ‘n cheese)..and so quick to make, I doubt any of you who try it will go back to the boxed version as much as you usually do..the one we’ve all grown up eating at some point – although it stopped tasting like cheese a long time ago, at least for me.
I call the boxed versions yellow or orange macaroni snackies. No discernible flavor, but somehow, it still elicits the occasional craving.
Seriously, do any of you taste cheese in the K or Annie box of Mac N’ Cheese? I just taste a weird, artificial flavor that isn’t cheesy, yet, sometimes, in a pinch..I need to eat it…I don’t know why.
Of course I doctor it up with Sriracha and a handful of whatever real cheese I have on hand. I always have a box of Annie’s O or K on hand. It’s like a strange macaroni OCD, if I don’t have the purple or blue boxes in my cupboard, my cupboard seems naked. Now that I’ve discovered this recipe..I may be able to part with it forever – but then again, as mentioned, I don’t consider it macaroni and cheese, just a yellow or orange macaroni snack.
I highly recommend you try this, especially if you’re a fan of the purple or blue boxed yellow or orange macaroni snack or the Boston Market version. Add to it, if you like. Bacon is always phenomenal, as well as chicken, peas, ham, diced, hot peppers, etc..would be. Be daring, try a little minced ghost pepper in it! A little less heat, you say? How about a bit of habanero? A lot less? Serrano, chipotle, jalapeno etc..? As you can tell, I like a good kick to my Mac N’ Cheese.
I added Sriracha Sauce – love the stuff. You get cheesy, spicy heat, and that little ‘thing’ from honey mustard that makes you go ‘Hmmmm’ and then ‘Mmmmm’. Oh, I also added an extra cup of cheese to the sauce. That’s ok, right? ;D
I love hot and spicy food ..which is kind of weird since I couldn’t handle hot and spicy anything until my late 20′s. Before that, I remember ordering nachos, at Mexican Restaurants, on many occasions. My key phrase was “No jalapenos, please”. They added them anyway, and I’d have to pick them out one by one, because I didn’t want to send it back and risk a lugie in my guacamole. I think they enjoyed effin’ with me, or they were just hard of hearing. Now I ask for extra jalapenos, and barely get any.
When you have a few moments, check out Quick and Easy, Cheap and Healthy. So many inexpensive, healthy alternatives to the fatty stuff we all love…plus ways to not waste food via making a treat with what you’d usually throw out, and much more!
By the way..I’m making THIS chicken salad from her blog. next – with a few twists.
Extremely Creamy Stovetop Sriracha Macaroni and Cheese
Adapted from Quick and Easy, Cheap and Healthy, who adapted it from Taste of Home, with my revisions
About 4 servings
1/2 lb small sturdy pasta (such as Macaroni, Rotini or the like) I used Rotelli, which is larger
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons flour
3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup heavy cream
2/3 cup chicken broth
1 tablespoon honey mustard
1/4 cup Sriracha Sauce (more or less, depending on how spicy you like it)
A large pinch of kosher salt
freshly ground black pepper
3 cups really good mild, medium, or sharp shredded cheddar cheese (or a combination of your favorite cheeses) Try 4 cups, if you want it even cheesier! I did…and helloooo, I’m hooked forever.
DIRECTIONS:
1. Prepare pasta according to package directions – a little on the al dente side. While it’s boiling, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Sprinkle the flour over the butter, and stir and cook until it’s well blended (this is your roux).
2. Cook the butter and flour, still stirring, about a minute or so, to make sure the flour is thoroughly cooked and there’s no raw flour taste.
3. Combine the milk, cream and chicken broth in a liquid measuring cup, and slowly pour into the flour mixture, stirring all the while to combine it thoroughly. Continue stirring mixture until it is smooth and well blended. Stir until bubbles start to appear, this is when it will start to thicken, and it can take anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes until the sauce has thickened to the right consistency (think Elmer’s Glue, but a little looser – if you drag a finger across the back of a spoon dipped in the sauce, and the line stays crisp and clear – it should be ready).
4. Stir in the black pepper, kosher salt, Sriracha, and honey mustard. Remove from heat and stir in the shredded cheese. Keep stirring until the cheese is thoroughly melted, and you have a creamy sauce. Taste and season the sauce more if it needs it.
5. Drain the pasta and put back into the pot you cooked it in. Pour the sauce over the pasta and stir together until the pasta is thoroughly coated. Cover with the lid of the saucepan and allow it to sit for a few minutes to absorb the sauce. Serve in bowls topped with some chopped parsley or chives, a little more black pepper and pass the Sriracha for those who want more.
Click on the little blue frog below to see what the other SRC Group A bloggers made from their blog assignments.
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Love, love, love, sriracha. Great idea to spice up a mac n’ cheese with it. (Sweet as Sugar Cookies)
Comment by Lisa Inouye— June 4, 2012 #
This is my husband’s favorite mac n cheese; I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Extra cheese is always good;). And sriracha! Great idea!
Comment by Anne Simpson (@qechtweets)— June 4, 2012 #
Love this! Siracha in mac and cheese, awesome! Gret SRC pick.
Comment by theslowroasteditalian— June 4, 2012 #
Tried to comment on your blog but it was marked private, so I’ll thank you here. Wish I could see what you made!
Comment by Lisa— June 5, 2012 #
Wonderfully comforting and spicy! Right up my alley.
Cheers,
Rosa
Comment by Rosa May (@RosasYummyYums)— June 4, 2012 #
I LOVE Sriracha!! This looks amazing!! And, I got YOUR blog for this round!! I made the Black Forest Cake and it was ah-ma-zing!!
Comment by Jaida (Sweet Beginnings)— June 4, 2012 #
Yum, this looks delicious! I love a little spice in my mac and cheese, and this looks so creamy!
Comment by sara— June 4, 2012 #
oh yum! Love the addition of the sriracha to mac and cheese! Great pick for the SRC.
Comment by Carolyn— June 4, 2012 #
Sriracha anything is good in my book!
Comment by melissa@IWasBornToCook— June 4, 2012 #
QECH is one of my favorites! Good recipe choice. If you haven’t already, I’d love it if you’d check out my SRC pick this month: Dark Chocolate S’mores Pie!
Comment by Amy @ A Little Nosh— June 4, 2012 #
I can so relate to the picking photos, although I am still working on my food photography skills. And love this recipe. More cheese, please…of course. I am not a fan f the box stuff, always scratch for me. Hope we get one another soon on src lol.
Comment by Cheap Ethnic Eatz (@cethniceatz)— June 4, 2012 #
I had Anne’s blog back in February. Love that you added sriracha, bet that really amped up the flavor. Give a call one of these days, we need to catch up.
If you haven’t already, I’d love for you to check out my SRC entry Candied Popcorn.
Lisa~~
Cook Lisa Cook
Comment by Lisa~~— June 4, 2012 #
I love sriracha too. Great addition to mac and cheese!
Comment by Cookaholic Wife— June 4, 2012 #
LOVING this!! I’m such a fan of mac ‘n’ cheese and with the addition of sriracha, I’m in heaven! Great post
Comment by FoodBabbles— June 4, 2012 #
OK…my son is going to go gaga over the thought of adding Sriracha to my vegan mac n cheese recipe. Awesome choice!
Comment by veggiegrettie— June 4, 2012 #
Sounds delicious….and the forking thing is hysterical!
Comment by susie— June 4, 2012 #
I’m glad you’re comfy in your old jammies, Lisa.
We like you just the way you are. Until today I’d forgotten how much I love mac and cheese. We’re having such a wild, cold and stormy day that this will be perfect for dinner. 
Comment by ramblingtart— June 5, 2012 #
BWAH! I feel you on the long process of writing a blog, but I’ve never been brave enough to admit how long it takes me to post a single blog because I feel the finished product isn’t as wonderful as it should be with as much time as I put into it. I fear the judgement that will reign down on me and my subpar photos-haha.
Girrrrl, you got me hook, line, and sinker with this mac and cheese. I so gotta try this! I wasn’t big on spicy food until I met my husband who is the Spice Master, and now I’ve got the rooster sauce in my fridge fo sho. Can’t wait to try this! Mouth is watering! Love your photos by the way, your time shows in your work. <3
Comment by Veronica— June 5, 2012 #
This is wonderful!
I like it a bit spicy, but my other-half is so sensitive (LOL) that I think I’ll have to omit the souce
Comment by Winnie— June 5, 2012 #
I’ve actually never had sriracha but this mac & cheese is screaming my name! My oh my you don’t seem to realize that no matter the quality of your photos (and I love the one pouring the liquid into the pot) your food always makes me drool and crave immediate satisfaction in the form of a bowl, plate or slice of whatever it is you have made. Fantastic! And I can’t wait to spend a week at your house and you cooking for me every day! Now we only need a bowl of the sweet potato rice pudding to make this a perfect meal!
Comment by jamielifesafeast— June 5, 2012 #
I love macaroni and cheese, but with sriracha…WOW! I can’t wait to give this a try!
Comment by Wendy— June 5, 2012 #
Mac and cheese is one of my ultimate comfort food cravings. It really is. My mom is famous for hers and I love it when she announces she’s making it for dinner for us;) Sriaracha mac and cheese is a brilliant idea because I adore spicy! I know…the process to do a post is painstaking. Your sauce pouring onto the noodles has me itching for a very large bowl right now for early lunch.
xx
Comment by Lora @cakeduchess— June 5, 2012 #
yum! that looks so delicious! mac and cheese is my ultimate favorite comfort food! thanks for sharing!
Comment by glutenfreehappytummy— June 5, 2012 #
I made this for lunch today for me, my daughter and a friend who came to visit! We LOVED IT! Of course, my daughters batch was minus sriracha, but like you said, good either way! SO CREAMY! Thank you to you and the blog you adapted it from!
Comment by Dinavia— June 5, 2012 #
Great combo mac & creamy cheese with siracha. Will have to make it for my kid he’ll love it. Great photos as usual nice work!
Comment by Dan— June 5, 2012 #
Love the combination of the creaminess of make and cheese spiced up with a bit of heat but then I am the one who put blackberry serrano preserves in a tart too, right?
I doubt few realize just what goes into a blog post before it gets published; thanks my dear for getting the word out. It is truly a labor of love isn’t it?
Comment by Barbara | Creative Culinary— June 5, 2012 #
Perfect comfort food. I like to spice up my mac and cheese too. Would have never thought of honey mustard though.
Comment by Barbara @ Barbara Bakes— June 5, 2012 #
Holy moly girlfriend! Three posts in a week! I can’t keep up! LOL This mac and cheese looks awesome, and since you recommended it so much, I will have to give it a try!
Also, we need another phone date!!!!
Comment by Jenni— June 6, 2012 #
I have a light problem also in taking photos in my place…it’s so dark. I’m lucky when the weather permits me to photograph outside. As I keep saying, I don’t have “that camera” yet; but I still work on improving my photos with what I have. I also like to marinate (love this description!) my posts, and sometimes I feel I didn’t long enough.
I used to like hot and spicy, but I don’t tolerate it as well now (I shouldn’t say that because it makes me sound old!). I still like a little kick in some dishes, and I offset it with sour cream, avocado and/or cheese. Who can resist a really creamy mac and cheese…I need to try the sriracha sauce, and the use of honey mustard is different!
I wanted to let you know that you are one of my nominees (I had to select five) for the Food Stories Award For Excellence in Storytelling…you definitely deserve it! For more information, check out http://foodstoriesblog.com/food-stories-award/.
Thank you for your wonderful posts!
Comment by Bonnie Banters— June 6, 2012 #
Hi Lisa! I tried to leave what was a lengthy comment earlier about yet another great post where I agreed w/several things you mentioned and how I’d like to try your recipe; however, it didn’t go through.
Also, I wanted to let you know that you are one of my nominees (I had to select five) for the Food Stories Award For Excellence in Storytelling…you definitely deserve it! For more information, check out http://foodstoriesblog.com/food-stories-award/.
Comment by Bonnie Banters— June 6, 2012 #
That looks ridiculously good! I’ve just eaten a bowl of pasta, but now I want macaroni cheese too. I love the idea of a spicy kick.
Comment by Suz— June 6, 2012 #
I made this and it was delicious and really really creamy. I didn’t add the hot sauce, but like you said, good either way. Thank you!
Comment by Penny— June 6, 2012 #
You know my boys love anything spicy. I am so book marking this page. This is a teenagers dish come true!
Comment by Bam's Kitchen— June 6, 2012 #
Ooohh, ghost pepper, hot mama! My daughter loved Annie’s – it was her “mom and dad are going out” dinner, and she loved it with peas and basil. Missing her now *sniff*, but she’ll be home next week
Comment by Priscilla Willis (@shescookin)— June 7, 2012 #
I put sriracha on almost everything, so I can already tell that this is the best mac n cheese in the world.
Comment by Scott— June 7, 2012 #
Well whatever long road you take to get good photos, it’s working–yours are some of the best. Wish my husband liked mac-n-cheese. (loser) jk
You are a posting beast.
Comment by kevnkoi— June 7, 2012 #
Made this for dinner tonight and we both loved it! Thanks!
Comment by Veronica— June 8, 2012 #
Looks yummy and congratulations on making the foodbuzz Top 9!
Comment by foodiestuntman— June 8, 2012 #
Thanks so much!
Comment by Lisa— June 8, 2012 #
A heavenly sauce & aka creation! Looks splendid! Rich & creamy too, packed with flavour! xxx
Comment by Sophie33— June 8, 2012 #
Sriracha and honey mustard in mac and cheese? sign me up. I haven’t made a box version since I left the states 17 years ago. I would love this.
Comment by Maureen (@OrgasmicChef)— June 8, 2012 #
Creamy mac and cheese with Sriracha; on the menu next week!
Comment by Susan @One Less Thing— June 8, 2012 #
Haha that is too funny! I definitely have conversations with my boyfriend about what pictures to use all the time. I always get the ::eyes rolling:: they look the same face, hehe.
Now this mac and cheese?! I am soooooo digging this, especially since you put that siracha in it! That is just calling my name
Comment by RavieNomNoms— June 8, 2012 #
oh this pasta looks absolutely perfect!!
Comment by Simply Life— June 9, 2012 #
Thx for connecting with me on foodbuzz. I just subscribed to your blog feed and can’t wait to see what your next post will be!
Comment by Food Stories— June 10, 2012 #
Thank you too! Nice to meet you!
Comment by Lisa— June 11, 2012 #
I am going to make these for my hungry teenage boys tonight. They are very happy!
Comment by Bam's Kitchen— June 11, 2012 #
I made this over the weekend with bout 1/2 the sriracha called for, and added pieces of fresh cooked lobster. It was DELICIOUS and everyone thought was quite special. Thx for the recipe
Comment by Steven— June 11, 2012 #
Oh, I don’t blame you for using half the sriracha called for..I’m just a heat freak these days lol I’m so glad you loved it! I made it again last weekend and used 4 cups of shredded cheese…even better! Adding lobster to it is something I’ve always aspired to do with mac ‘n cheese recipes, but never did. With this recipe..I have to..especially after your recommendation! Thank you, Steve!
Comment by Lisa— June 11, 2012 #
Made this…it rocks..best homemade macaroni and cheese ever! We added extra siracha, love the stuff!
Comment by Jake— June 12, 2012 #
[...] Extremely Creamy Stovetop Sriracha Macaroni and Cheese for SRC (parsleysagesweet.com) [...]
Pingback by To the dads, grilled mac and cheese « livindolcevita— June 16, 2012 #
I love mac-n-cheese anything but the sriracha sauce addition is a stroke of genius.
Comment by themadhausfrau— June 26, 2012 #
I gave you a link back on one of my pr4 pages, I hope this is ok.
Comment by Gregory Despain— July 5, 2012 #
I made this using skim milk, reduced fat cheddar cheese and extra sriracha. It was delicious nevertheless. I’m not partial to spicy foods but every time I walked by the pot, I would grab a forkful. Or two.When I brought it to my boyfriend’s house, he didn’t bother to heat it up…and could barely stop himself from finishing the entire thing. A keeper or sure !!
Comment by Presidenta— July 9, 2012 #
If it’s ‘that’ good using skim milk and low-fat cheese – I have to try it that way! This is definitely the best stovetop, homemade mac n’ cheese I’ve ever made! I’m so glad you loved it…and loved it enough to love it with the sriracha! Now that’s saying something!
Comment by Lisa— July 9, 2012 #
This sounds so good! stopping by from katherine m’s blog hop
Comment by Abby— July 28, 2012 #
Love the addition of the sirach-YUM!
Comment by britathere— July 30, 2012 #
You my dear are an evil genius. This is so over the top good. Loving it.
Comment by Kim Bee— August 3, 2012 #
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Pingback by Windfall Magazine - Macaroni and Cheese— November 2, 2012 #