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We’re coming to the end of 2020. 2020’s known aliases: the crappiest year in history, it was the worst of times–it was the worst of times, a test of your marriage, a test of your faith, the year of takeout cocktails.
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If there were ever a time of extreme self-indulgence, this is the time. And, eh. Throw in some spinach because you should eat your vegetables or whatever. Don’t like spinach? Listen… I’m not your mom. Make it without spinach. I won’t tell her.
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SHOW OF HANDS: who needs some next level mac and cheese? A smooth, creamy mac with some KAPOW?! YOU DO. Trust me. You need this in your life.
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You’ll never believe how it gets your kids to eat their dang spinach. Blink and it’s instant clean-plate-club membership for your whole crew.
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It’s so fabulous it belongs on a red carpet being photographed by the paparazzi.
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This is a bucket of melty, ooey-gooey love. Great food is usually love, but that’s definitely true right now.
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The crunchy panko topping is just the BEST. THE FLIPPING BEST.
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I love it all so very much. There’s no time like 2020 to eat our feelings.
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Ingredients
For the mac:
- 6 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 large sweet onion (finely diced)
- 1 tsp salt
- ¾ tsp black pepper
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- ¼ cup all purpose flour (tested with White Lily)
- 3 (14 oz) cans vegetable broth
- 4 cups half and half
- 1 pound cavatappi
- 1 tsp garlic salt (tested with Lawry's)
- 1 dash cayenne pepper
- 1 pinch nutmeg
- 16 oz baby spinach
- 16 oz mozzarella (freshly grated)
- 8 oz sharp white cheddar (freshly grated)
- 4 oz parmesan (freshly grated)
Optional topping:
- 1 cup reserved cheese mixture
- ½ cup panko
- cooking spray
Instructions
For the Mac:
- In a dutch oven or a heavy bottomed stockpot, melt butter over medium heat. Add onions. Add salt and pepper. Cook until translucent. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds, or until fragrant, stirring often.
- Sprinkle onion mixture with flour. Cook for 2 minutes, or until all raw flour is gone.
- Add broth in with the half and half, stirring to remove any browned bits from the bottom.
- Add in pasta and bring to a boil. Add in the garlic salt, cayenne, and nutmeg.
- Cook (uncovered) for 10 to 15 minutes, or until pasta is cooked to your liking. Stir it often and make sure the pasta stays submerged.
- When the pasta is cooked, stir in spinach, working it in batches if necessary.
- Remove pot from heat. If topping the mac with panko, reserve 1 cup of the cheese mixture and stir in the remaining cheese. If not topping with panko, stir in all cheese and serve as soon as the cheese melts.
Optional topping:
- Preheat broiler.
- Pour mac into oven safe casserole dish. Top mac with the one cup reserved cheese mixture. Top the cheese with panko. Coat with a light spritz of cooking spray.
- Place casserole dish on the upper third of the oven and broil for 1 to 2 minutes. Serve immediately.