Today’s Macaroni and Cheese-It’s not just for kids

This recipe comes from Rick Bayless’ Salsas that Cook cookbook. This cookbook has 6 core salsa recipes, and each recipe in the cookbook utilizes one of the 6 salsas. I chose to make the Today’s Macaroni and Cheese-It’s not just for kids recipe with the Roasted Poblano-Tomato Salsa. Salsa was good. Mac-n-Cheese was good. Probably won’t be making either of them again, but maybe your tastes differ from ours.

Roasted Poblano-Tomato Salsa

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. ripe tomatoes
• 2 medium poblanos
• 1/2 small red onion, sliced 1/4 inch thick
• 4 garlic cloves, peeled
• 1/2 c. tomato puree
• 1/2 c. water
• 2 TBSP cilantro
• 2 tsp. chopped fresh thyme
• 2 tsp. salt

Directions:

1. Broil poblanos and tomatoes until they blister and blacken. Turn so there is an even roast. Remove and place poblanos in a ziploc bag for 10 minutes.
2. Turn oven to 425. On a baking sheet roast the onion and garlic, until richly browned-about 15 minutes.
3. Remove poblanos from bag and peel the charred skin from the pepper. Remove the stem and seeds.
4. In a food processor, pulse onion, garlic, poblanos, tomatoes until its chunky. Pour salsa into bowl. Add tomato puree, water, cilantro, thyme, and salt.

Today’s Macaroni and Cheese-It’s not just for kids

Ingredients:

• 2 c. milk
• 4 TBSP butter
• 1/4 c. flour
• 2 cups Roasted Poblano-Tomato Salsa
• 3 c. shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/2 tsp. slat
• 1 lb dried pasta
• 2 TBSP cilantro for garnish

Directions:

1. Prepare pasta as directed
2. Warm the milk, either in the microwave or on the stove
3. In a medium-size saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat, then stir in the flour and whisk until the mixture turns deep gold, about 2 minutes. Add the warmed milk all at once and continue to whisk constantly until the mixture thickens and comes to a full boil, 4 to 5 minutes. (Whisk diligently and there will be no lumps.) Stir in the salsa, remove from heat, then add the cheese and stir until it melts. Taste and season with salt.
4. Once pasta is cooked, return the pasta to the pot. Stir in the cheese sauce, then spoon into a serving dish. Sprinkle with cilantro.
5. Your can also put the mac-n-cheese into a buttered baking dish. Top with buttered bread crumbs and bake at 375 until browned, about 10-12 minutes.
Roasted Polbano-Tomato Salsa:

Today’s Macaroni and Cheese-It’s not just for kids: