Want to try one of the richest most delicious Mac n Cheeses out there?

Who doesn't love a creamy rich Macaroni and cheese...one of the most favorite comfort foods!  So exactly how rich and delicious is this Mac n Cheese?  Let's just say the Food Network executives dubbed it the HEART ATTACK MAC!  Yep that's right.  In 2002, I starred and executive produced my very own show at the Food Network.  The show was called Lighten Up.  It was a food makeover show.  We made the most decadent rich dish and then we lightened it up.  So when we came to the Mac n Cheese episode I got my dad's recipe that I grew up on for macaroni and cheese.  It was rich and delicious.  He never put bacon in the recipe but we thought for the show let's kick it up even higher and add the bacon.

Now every recipe featured on any show at the Food Network is reviewed scrupulously--and rightly so, they want to make sure the recipe will work for their viewers.  Well I remember meeting with the Kitchen team and they just shook their heads saying....this is way too rich...it's Heart Attack Mac!  I told them I would remove the bacon...but they thought it needed to be cut in a couple of places...so I reluctantly agreed.  I like to stick true to my recipes...but I also liked starring in my own food show so changes were made.

After the show I remember reading the comments on my recipe.  People seemed to love it.  They wanted to know if they could add extra cheeses to it (which I was thinking...well you could but Food Network won't be happy about that...they made me cut them).


Maybe you would like to try our Heart Attack Mac and let us know what you think....

Ingredients

16 ounces dry elbow macaroni

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 pint half-and-half

8 ounces American cheese slices

8 ounces cream cheese

4 ounces smoked gouda, grated

1 cup light sour cream

4 eggs, beaten

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

2 dashes hot sauce

1 teaspoon salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1/2 pound ham, cubed

3 slices bacon, reserve drippings

1/2 cup dried bread crumbs

2 tablespoons paprika

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. 
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the macaroni until just tender, about 8 minutes. Strain and set aside. 
3. Meanwhile, heat the butter and half-and-half in a large saucepan over medium heat. Reserve 5 American cheese slices; tear the rest into pieces and add to the saucepan, along with the cream cheese, and gouda. Cook, stirring often , until cheese is melted and sauce is smooth. 
4. Remove from heat and stir in the sour cream. Stir in the eggs slowly. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, salt and pepper. Stir in the macaroni and ham. Scrape the mixture into a 2-quart baking dish and top with the remaining 5 American cheese slices. 
5. Cook the bacon. Remove from pan and reserve the drippings. Add the bread crumbs to the pan with the drippings and stir. Crumble the bacon into the bread crumb mixture. Pour the bread crumb mixture evenly over the macaroni and cheese. Sprinkle the paprika over the macaroni and cheese. Cover the dish with a lid or aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake until top is browned about 10 minutes more. Let cool slightly before serving. 

https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/christinas-bakin-bacon-macaroni-and-cheese-recipe-1914224

There was great flavor in this macaroni and cheese. My family loved it and it was so easy to make! The gouda cheese was a hit in it and the ham was fantastic. Kids would love it too!

There was great flavor in this macaroni and cheese. My family loved it and it was so easy to make! The gouda cheese was a hit in it and the ham was fantastic. Kids would love it too!