Thursday: Baked Beans with Mac 'N' Cheese

I get to go out Thursdays. I don't do very much, but there I am, getting a break. Most of the time it involves shopping for everyone, but sometimes I meet up with other moms, where we mostly talk aboot our families. But we are oot!! I like to make something nice and uncomplicated for the boys those nights, like macaroni and cheese and baked beans. Mac and cheese is so fast and easy, it's almost quicker than KD and you can hide veggies in it. Done.

You will need:

For the baked beans:

1 lb dried navy beans

1/2 c brown sugar

1/2 c molasses (cooking)

Bacon, 6 slices, cooked until very crispy and chopped

1 onion, chopped

1/2 c tomato paste

For the Mac N Cheese:

2 c whole grain macaroni

1/4 c butter

1/4 c all-purpose unbleached flour

1/4 tsp ground mustard

1/4 tsp Worcestershire sauce – don't use too much

1/4 tsp pepper

1/2 tsp salt

2 c milk

2 c (8 oz) sharp / old orange cheddar cheese. And 2 c is just a guideline, load that sucker up if you want

Let's start with the baked beans, because they take a while. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Pick through your beans, and give them a good rinse in cold water. Put them in a Dutch Oven with ten cups of cold water and bring them to a boil on the stove. Let them boil for 2 full minutes, then turn off. 

Add in the brown sugar, molasses, bacon and onion.

No one should ever put molasses in anything else. These are AWEsome. For honey too! 

Ready for the oven

Bake covered for 4 hours, then add three cups and remove the cover. Add 3 more cups of water and bake for 2 hours more. Stir in the tomato paste and bake for another 15 minutes and done! Add some maple syrup if you would like it a little sweeter.

Yes pease!!

And now for the macaroni and cheese:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cook the macaroni, drain and set aside. Melt the butter in a large saucepan; sprinkle with the flour, mustard, salt, pepper and Worcestershire sauce. I love Worcestershire sauce just as much as I hate typing it, but don't use too much. Even a little bit will overpower the flavour. Cook until bubbling:

Bubbles!!

When it is all nice and bubbling, remove from the heat and add in milk, slowwwwwwly. You just want enough to cover the bottom of the pan, stir it in until it is all incorporated before adding more. 

Gentttttly

 Once all the milk is added and it is all smooth, return to heat:

Your basic bechamel sauce

And gradually bring to a boil, stirring the whole time. Once it starts to boil, keep stirring and let that sauce boil for one minute. 

Sooo nice and thick

Turn off the heat and stir in the cheese until it melts. This is also when you could incorporate some pureed cauliflower, should you be so inclined. You could probably get at least 1/2 c in there without anyone noticing. I hear. 

It's meeeeellllting!!

Spray a 2Qt casserole (I only know that because it says that on the bottom), bake for 20-25 minutes until it is all bubbly. 

Cheesy goodness