{"id":3618,"date":"2010-03-15T08:50:48","date_gmt":"2010-03-15T14:50:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/blog\/?p=3618"},"modified":"2010-03-15T08:51:21","modified_gmt":"2010-03-15T14:51:21","slug":"croque-monsieur-mac-and-cheese","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/blog\/2010\/03\/15\/croque-monsieur-mac-and-cheese\/","title":{"rendered":"Croque Monsieur Mac and Cheese"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Macaroni and cheese has become one of my favorite things to cook and something that I can count on Ben being happy about having for dinner almost 100% of the time. \u00a0I love that there are endless options when it comes to this dish. \u00a0You can go plain and simple with traditional elbow macaroni and cheddar cheese. \u00a0You can mix things up and add chicken or ham for a meaty version. \u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/blog\/2009\/09\/09\/easy-mac-and-cheese-with-chicken\/\" target=\"_blank\">This one<\/a> with chicken was great. \u00a0Vegetables are another great addition. \u00a0This <a href=\"http:\/\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/blog\/2009\/11\/13\/green-chile-mac-and-cheese\/\" target=\"_blank\">green chile mac and cheese<\/a> was incredible. \u00a0I would like to try a mac and cheese with cauliflower or broccoli sometime.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/monsieurmac7.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-3627\" title=\"monsieurmac7\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/monsieurmac7.jpg?resize=300%2C171\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"171\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/monsieurmac7.jpg?resize=300%2C171 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/monsieurmac7.jpg?resize=150%2C85 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/monsieurmac7.jpg?w=350 350w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a>This recipe pays tribute to the amazing French ham and cheese sandwich of the same name. \u00a0I&#8217;ve made croque monsieurs and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/blog\/2009\/11\/06\/croque-madame-sil-vous-plait\/\" target=\"_blank\">madames<\/a> and they are both delicious sandwiches, so there was no possible way that this could be anything less than incredible! \u00a0It was more than incredible. \u00a0It was life altering and something I will definitely make again, but not regularly since gruyere cheese is not exactly cheap. \u00a0I think it was something like $13.99 per pound at my grocery store, but can apparently set you back even more if you order it from <a href=\"http:\/\/www.artisanalcheese.com\/prodinfo.asp?number=10262\" target=\"_blank\">this artisanal cheese site<\/a>. \u00a0Yikes. \u00a0You could use Swiss cheese and it would be just as good.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>This macaroni and cheese contains all the required ingredients to earn the name croque monsieur; ham, gruyere cheese and crusty bread. \u00a0Thank you <a href=\"http:\/\/www.foodnetwork.com\/recipes\/croque-monsieur-mac-and-cheese-recipe\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">Food Network Magazine<\/a> for this incredibly yummy dish. \u00a0The flavors are great and the topping of big bread crumbs is perfection. \u00a0I used a ham steak with good results. \u00a0The slices of ham along with the gooey cheese and tender ziti in this mac and cheese made for a great dinner along with a nice green salad.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/monsieurmac2.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3622\" title=\"monsieurmac2\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/monsieurmac2.jpg?resize=180%2C167\" alt=\"\" width=\"180\" height=\"167\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/monsieurmac2.jpg?w=250 250w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/monsieurmac2.jpg?resize=150%2C139 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 180px) 100vw, 180px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/monsieurmac4.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3624\" title=\"monsieurmac4\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/monsieurmac4.jpg?resize=225%2C147\" alt=\"\" width=\"225\" height=\"147\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/monsieurmac4.jpg?w=250 250w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/monsieurmac4.jpg?resize=150%2C97 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/monsieurmac5.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3625\" title=\"monsieurmac5\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/monsieurmac5.jpg?resize=200%2C147\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"147\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/monsieurmac5.jpg?w=250 250w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/monsieurmac5.jpg?resize=150%2C110 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h6>Croque Monsieur Mac &amp; Cheese<\/h6>\n<p>Ingredients<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u00bd \u00a0pound ziti<\/li>\n<li>2 cups milk<\/li>\n<li>2 cups coarsely grated gruyere cheese(about 6 ounces)<\/li>\n<li>1 cup finely grated parmesan cheese (about 4 ounces)<\/li>\n<li>2 large eggs<\/li>\n<li>3 slices white sandwich bread, roughly diced<\/li>\n<li>2 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for greasing<\/li>\n<li>1 medium onion, diced<\/li>\n<li>1 clove garlic, minced<\/li>\n<li>3 tablespoons all-purpose flour<\/li>\n<li>Pinch of cayenne pepper<\/li>\n<li>1\/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg<\/li>\n<li>Kosher salt<\/li>\n<li>8 ounces thinly sliced deli-boiled ham<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Directions<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the ziti and cook until al dente, about 6 minutes. Drain and transfer to a large bowl; toss with 1\/4 cup milk.<\/li>\n<li>Meanwhile, combine both cheeses in a bowl. Beat 1\/4 cup milk and the eggs in another bowl; fold in the bread and add half of the cheese.<\/li>\n<li>Melt the butter in a saucepan over high heat. Add the onion and garlic; cook, stirring, until just brown, 2 minutes. Sprinkle in the flour, cayenne, nutmeg and 1 teaspoon Kosher salt; cook, stirring, about 2 minutes. Slowly add 3\/4 cup water and the remaining 1 1\/2 cups milk; bring to a boil, stirring until thickened. Remove from the heat and whisk to cool slightly. Whisk in the remaining cheese, then add the pasta and toss.<\/li>\n<li>Butter a shallow casserole dish. Add half of the pasta, top with some of the ham and cover with the remaining pasta. Top with the remaining ham, then cover with the bread mixture. Bake until golden and bubbly, about 20 minutes. Let rest a few minutes before serving.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div id=\"wp_fb_like_button\" style=\"margin:5px 0;float:none;height:70px;\"><script src=\"http:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/all.js#xfbml=1\"><\/script><fb:like href=\"https:\/\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/blog\/2010\/03\/15\/croque-monsieur-mac-and-cheese\/\" send=\"false\" layout=\"standard\" width=\"400\" show_faces=\"true\" font=\"arial\" action=\"like\" colorscheme=\"light\"><\/fb:like><\/div><!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on the_content -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Macaroni and cheese has become one of my favorite things to cook and something that I can count on Ben being happy about having for dinner almost 100% of the time. \u00a0I love that there are endless options when it comes to this dish. \u00a0You can go plain and simple with traditional elbow macaroni and [&hellip;]<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[23,4,85],"tags":[907,301,162,163,153,913,302],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p51jE-Wm","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3618"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3618"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3618\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3636,"href":"https:\/\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3618\/revisions\/3636"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3618"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3618"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hottie-biscotti.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3618"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}