Did you bite your mac and cheese at me sir?
Mac and cheese is an American staple comfort food with its origins in southern Italy. First made with Parmesan which then evolved to cheddar. Name is a spin on Romeo and Juliet opening market place! I would give this to >9 month old as the texture is a bit gelatinous and crumbly so you will want the pincer grip developed and for them to be able to confidently move food around their mouths. They freeze well so an ideal batch cook.
Makes around 20 bites
Ingredients
60g butter
500ml milk
Plain flour measured to the 150 ml mark on a measuring jug.
1 egg beaten
3/4 cup of fine bread crumbs
50g grated cheddar cheese
1 tsp ground nutmeg
½ tsp mustard powder
80g dry weight orzo pasta (any small “soup”pasta will work)
Method
1. Slowly melt butter on low heat in saucepan, slowly add flour and heat through to make a thick ball that's is soft and dough like. Take of heat.
2. Cook pasta and then cool by running under cold water.
3. Heat through milk in separate saucepan.
4. Slowly add milk to flour/butter mix beating as you add. Once all liquid has been added return to heat and add egg - beat until mixture thickens. It needs to be quite thick mixture that forms peaks.
5. Take of heat and add nutmeg and cheese, stir through until melted. Mix in pasta. Check consistency, if it has lost its firmness then heat again stiring until it forms peaks again. Tip on to plate to cool and cling film to prevent skin forming.
6. Once cooled shape into balls, golf ball size and roll in breadcrumbs.
7. To cook place on baking tray in 200C fan oven for 25 mins – turn half way, they may loose there shape a little, but still reasonably firm for little hands to pick-up and eat.
8. If u want to freeze, then once made, before cooking in oven, put them on a sheet of baking paper on a baking tray in freezer. Once frozen click them of tray into storage bag / container - then you can cook them straight from frozen – cook 180 fan for 30-40 mins turning half way, or defrost in fridge and cook as before.
Tips
I would give this to >9 month old as the texture is a bit gelatinous and crumbly so you will want the pincer grip developed and for them to be able to confidently move food around their mouths. Separate half mixture after adding pasta and add some cut of salami for grown ups. I heat my oven trays up in oven before adding the balls to prevent sticking. They are really hot first out oven and a little crumbly so cool for a bit before serving/moving them! Serve with a tangy tomato salsa or apply chutney for perfection.
Facts
Mac and cheese is an American staple comfort food with its origins in southern Italy. First made with Parmesan which then evolved to cheddar. Name is a spin on Romeo and Juliet opening market place!
p.s. the recipe uses traditional weight measurements, random jug measurements and cup measurements – sorry I just have not got the time to harmonise or the motivation (just go with it!) .