a cheat for one of my favorites

One of my favorite recipes on this site is courtesy of Chef Robert McGrath. Robert’s Green Chile Macaroni is the most delicious mac and cheese I’ve ever had.

With the hustle and bustle of Christmas, car issues, computer issues, and life in general, the very last thing I want to do is cook dinner. After picking my car up from the shop yesterday, during rush hour, the only option to get back into traffic was to make a detour past Costco. I decided to go in and brave the insanity since I needed a couple of last-minute gift cards anyway.

I decided to pick up a package of the prepared macaroni and cheese. In general, I like Costco’s prepared food, but the mac and cheese aren’t all that special. The only reason I chose it was because I knew I had two poblano peppers and a partial bag of frozen corn at home.

From the moment it hit my cart and all the way home, all I could think about was jazzing up this prepackaged mac and cheese.

It was delicious! Not as delicious as Robert’s version, but pretty darn fabulous for a cheat!

Cheater’s Green Chile Macaroni

• 1 container (approximately 3 to 4 pounds) Costco prepared Mac & Cheese
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter or olive oil
• 1 ½ to 2 cups frozen corn
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 2 poblano peppers, roasted, peeled, seeded, and diced
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Remove plastic lid and cover mac & cheese with foil and place in oven to cook for 40 to 60 minutes (as directed on package).

In the meantime, heat the butter or oil in a medium skillet and add the corn, and sauté for 2 minutes, then add cumin and chili powder and sauté another minute.

Add the diced roasted peppers and sauté for 4 minutes. Taste and season with salt and pepper.

When the macaroni has been in the oven for 30 minutes, remove it from the oven, take off the foil and stir in the corn/pepper mixture. Return to the oven and bake uncovered for another 10 to 30 minutes, depending on how well done you prefer it to be.

Pour yourself a glass of wine, settle in for a little TV time, relax and let the stresses (and the $$$ spent) slip away from your mind. Enjoy!

Save

Save

Save

Save