Dramatic plates provide visual appeal when serving bland-colored foods like mac and cheese.  
         
       
		
	    
	  June 2008  
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Gourmet Macaroni And Cheese Recipes   	            
Recipe V: Pacific Northwest Macaroni & Cheese  
  
Pacific Northwest Macaroni & Cheese Casserole Recipe
 Elizabeth Bennett was the 2007 Seattle Area Regional Winner of the Tillamook Macaroni & Cheese Recipe Contest. She calls her winning dish “Pacific Northwest Macaroni & Cheese,” but with the smoked salmon, cream cheese, bagel chips and dill ingredients, New Yorkers may adapt it as their own.  			
    
      Ingredients
          
            -  8 ounces large elbow macaroni 
 
            - 4 tablespoons butter
 
            - 1/2 cup red onion, finely minced
 
            -  1 clove garlic, minced
 
            -  1/4 cup flour 
 
            -  2 cups whole milk 
 
            -  1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
 
            -  1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed
 
            -  1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 
 
            - 1/4 teaspoon white pepper
 
            -  4 ounces Vintage White Extra Sharp Cheddar cheese, grated 
 
            -  4 ounces  Smoked Cheddar cheese, grated 
 
            - 3 ounces cream cheese
 
            -  2 ounces smoked salmon, flaked 
 
            -  1/2 cup crushed garlic bagel chips
 
            -  1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley 
 
            - Nonstick cooking spray 
 
             
                         
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Preparation 
  -  Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large saucepan, cook pasta according to package directions. Drain. 
 
  - In medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add onion and cook for 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add flour, stir to combine and cook for 3 minutes. 
 
  - Slowly add milk and cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring frequently, until mixture is thick and bubbly. Remove from heat. Stir in Worcestershire sauce, dill, salt and white pepper. Add cheeses and stir until smooth.
 
  -  Gently fold in pasta and smoked salmon to macaroni mixture. Spray a 2-quart casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray, and transfer pasta mixture into it. Sprinkle crushed bagel chips and parsley over casserole. Bake 20-25 minutes or until browned and bubbly. Serves 8+.
 
   
NEXT RECIPE: Shrimp Embrochette 
    
      WHEN YOU THINK “MAC & CHEESE,” THINK BEYOND ELBOW MACARONI. 
        In fact, most award-winning recipes use other shapes. 
        See the different pasta shapes in our 
        PASTA GLOSSARY.  | 
   
   
  
Recipe copyright Tillamook. Other material 
              
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