Bacon-Kale Mac N' Cheese

Winter is coming.  That means that tasty, nutritious winter greens are at their peak.  Whilst browsing the produce section at my local grocery store, greenery was in abundance and, yippee, it's very affordable as well!  A big bunch of kale was going for 99 cents...you can barely get a pack of gum for that price!  Now that my kale is secured, whatever shall we do with it?  Hey, let's smother it in a cheese sauce with pasta and bacon!  Genius, I know, and a grand way to get the kiddos to eat greens in disguise.

Ovens to 375.  Cook a pound of macaroni noodles for 7 minutes (2-3 minutes less than most package directions.)  Drain and set aside.  Wash and then chop half a bunch of kale into bite sized pieces.  Set aside.  Easy so far, huh?  Cut 6 slices of bacon into small pieces (scissors work very well here) and cook in a small skillet until browned and crispy.  Drain and set aside.  Yup, still easy.

Now, grab a medium sized pot and melt 3 tbsp. of butter in it.  Sauté 1/2 a chopped onion and 2 cloves of minced garlic for about 5 minutes until they're nice and sizzley.  Sizzley is, in fact, not an actual word, but I think you get the gist of what we're going for.  Whisk (not just stir...use an actual wire whisk) in 1/4 cup of flour and cook for 3 minutes.  We want the flour to get a bit of color.  Make sure you keep whisking as you slowly add in 3 cups of milk.  The whole thing is going to clump up on you at first, but just keep whisking in your milk and it will gradually separate out.  This step is a little tiny bit harder, but I know you can do it.  Full confidence.

     After the flour addition                                           Whisking in the milk

Once the milk is fully incorporated, add in some white cheddar, goat cheese, and parmesan so they can melt into our (now cheesy) sauce.  Let's also add in some nutmeg, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper for flavor.  Mmm...

Cheesy hot tub

 

Bring the cheese sauce up to a simmer on the stove and then we'll add our set aside pals from earlier, the kale, bacon and noodles. 

 

Stir in all that good stuff, making sure that everything is cheese coated and as evenly mixed as you can get.  Transfer the whole thing to a casserole dish.

Heck, let's sprinkle the whole thing with a bit more parmesan.  More is more, I say!  Also, if you're so inclined, sprinkle on a handful of herbed breadcrumbs.  While they're not essential, they make a nice crust on top as our mac and cheese bakes.  We'll keep it in the oven for 15 minutes.  Take a look at this...

Wow...that nice browned crust, that cheesy sauce bubbling up the sides of the pan, those delectable bits of bacon and kale in every bite...what's not to love here???

Time for me to eat and for you to get moving in your kitchen!

Just one of the 3 servings I ate...heh

Wanted to mention too that, unlike many of the recipes that I've posted, this one is best right out of the oven.  I still ate it for two days after I first made it, but it's not quite as good.  Something about the just out of the oven bubbly awesomeness cannot be duplicated by reheating.  Word to the wise.  Make sure you've got a few folks over to help you eat!

Try it.  You'll like it.

-Sam

Bacon-Kale Mac ‘N Cheese

1 lb. macaroni
3 tablespoon butter
1/2 of an onion, diced
2 cloves minced garlic
1/4 cup flour
3 cups milk
6 oz sharp white cheddar, grated
3 oz parmesan, finely grated

2 oz goat cheese, crumbled
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
6 slices center cut bacon
½ bunch of fresh kale, chopped
1/2 cup herbed breadcrumbs (optional)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Cook pasta for 7 minutes. Drain and set aside.

Meanwhile, cut the bacon strips into small pieces (I find scissors work well for this step). Cook until crispy. Then drain, and set aside.

In a medium pot, melt the butter. Sauté the onion and garlic for 5 minutes over medium heat.  Whisk in the flour and cook over medium heat for 3 minutes. Slowly whisk in the milk while cooking over medium heat.  Stir in the 3 cheeses, whisking until melted and creamy. Add the nutmeg, cayenne, black pepper, and salt. Bring to a simmer, and then stir in the pasta, bacon, and kale.

Transfer the pasta mixture to a casserole dish. Sprinkle the top with the breadcrumbs, if desired. Bake for 15 minutes, or until the mixture is hot and bubbly. Serve immediately.