We’re 100% PNW; we’re proud of the deep heritage and culture in the Pacific Northwest. Our Executive Chef, Chris Bryant, was born and raised here, and he loves to highlight our area’s best local ingredients. Two of the finest ingredients that our region has to offer are Cougar Gold and Tilllamook cheese, which we proudly feature in our Mac & Cheese. We believe our Cougar Gold Macaroni & Cheese is the bomb and the Mac & Cheese Chick agrees! She’s recently featured us on her blog for the best mac & cheese recipes to serve up during your Super Bowl party. GO HAWKS!
Here’s the recipe, if you’re thinking of giving it a try:
WildFin American Grill’s Cougar Gold Macaroni & Cheese
Ingredients
- MACARONI & CHEESE
- 5 cups cooked fusilli pasta
- 3 cups lobster bechamel sauce
- ¾ cup Cougar Gold cheese, shredded
- ¼ cup Tillamook Cheddar cheese, shredded
- ¼ cup bacon, cooked crisp and chopped
- ¼ cup bread crumbs
- 2 tablespoons Parmesan, grated
- LOBSTER BECHAMEL SAUCE (makes about 5 cups)
- 4 cups whole milk
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 pound cream cheese, room temperature
- 2¼ teaspoons lobster base*
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- MACARONI & CHEESE
- In a large sauce pan, place the lobster bechamel sauce, bacon and the cooked pasta along with both the cheeses and mix well. Let cook over low heat until the sauce is warm, the cheese is melted, and the pasta is well coated.
- Transfer the heated mixture to a baking dish. Sprinkle the top with bread crumbs and Parmesan. Place in a 350-degree oven and let bake for about 3 – 5 minutes or until breadcrumbs and Parmesan have browned and the sauce is bubbling.
- LOBSTER BECHAMEL SAUCE
- Melt the butter in a large sauce pan. Add the flour and mix it to form a roux. Let the flour and butter roux cook over low heat about 1 minute. Add the milk to the pan and whisk the mixture until it is smooth with a wire whisk. Add the remaining ingredients to the pan and mix them until smooth over low heat.
Notes
*Lobster base can be purchased in a specialty store or you can whip it up yourself; do an online search for details.
