Gluten Free Mac & Cheese

Doesn't it look delicious?

I wanted to start off with something easy, that most people loved as a kid and now as an adult. And yet make it grown up and take it to a whole new flavor level. I wanted to make it healthier then the alternatives. 

If you want to make this, here is what you will need:

Ingredients:

Gluten free elbow macaroni

      I prefer Schar Products, as the taste and texture are amazing and really hold up. However if you are tight on money then go generic, just make sure you get the corn flour type, I find the brown rice flour to just taste weird. I recommend Wegman';s for this. 

Unsalted butter

Rice flour (Bob's Red Mill stone ground WHITE)

Milk (or half & half or cream)

Cheddar cheese grated (you will use a WHOLE 8oz brick)

Vermont white cheddar grated (half goes in the sauce and you will use for garnish)

Onion flavored cheese (This adds a HUGE amount of flavor with out making you cry, and makes it a bit more grown-up)

From right to left Onion cheese, cheddar, and white cheddar

Ham steaks (1-2 depending on thickness and your size dice)

I used 2 of these but it made a lot and we will have left overs all week!

Get your pasta on and while that is cooking you need to start your bechamel sauce base for the cheese sauce. Yes I know, I used a big fancy cooking term, but let me tell you, it makes a HUGE difference in the way things taste and hold together. To make this you need a medium sauce pan and get it hot over medium heat. Next you melt 2 table spoons of butter. I always suggest that you use unsalted butter when making a base as you can always add more salt in, you just can't take it out. 

After the butter has melted, add 2 table spoons of rice flour. (This is how we are cheating and making it gluten free!!) A NORMAL bechamel sauce calls for regular flour, but we aren't normal around here, now are we? Whisk it together and then add the cheese one at a time to make sure it all blends and melts. Then add salt and pepper to your taste. 

Completed bechamel sauce with cheese

Drain your pasta and the water empty the pasta into the hot pot you used to cook it, pour all of the sauce over the pasta, dump in your ham cubes and save a few for garnish. Mix it all together, serve and enjoy!

Go ahead, give it a try.  I promise you its not as hard as it sounds. Let me know what you thought of the recipe, and my first post. I'll be back with more soon!

 Cheese!,

Heather :)