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Mac-n-cheese was considered to be upper crust until the end of the nineteenth century. Believe it or not, Thomas Jefferson served mac-n-cheese at a White House dinner in 1802. I am sure his Mac was made from scratch and not the out-of-the-box version.

I encourage you to make your own. It is easy to do and can be made ahead. It's one of those dishes that pleases children of all ages. It is a fine dish to put on the menu for numerous occasions, from backyard BBQs to state dinners at the White House. Today, I encouraged a family member to serve it at their formal wedding during the reception. It happens to be the bride and groom’s favorite one-pot dish. Just use fresh ingredients, like good cheese, and you can't go wrong. Why not? It was good enough for President Jefferson!

A crowd pleasing favorite served with Oven Fried Chicken, WATCH TV SEGMENT — *A crowd pleasing favorite served with* **Oven Fried Chicken,** **WATCH TV SEGMENT**

Put your own spin on this one-pot dish by adding a variety of ingredients, such as:

Vegetables: peas, broccoli, or mushrooms, cauliflower

Meats: prosciutto, smoked baked ham, or pulled pork

Seafood: crab, lobster, or shrimp

For my Mac-N-Cheese Recipe.

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It's that time of year again; cooler evenings, more events going on and tailgates to organize. That's when I turn to my crowd-pleasing Mac-N-Cheese. You can make my mac-mix ahead if you're grilling at a tailgate. Chill it, then just bake it right on the grill. It's good time food.

Use my recipe as a guide, and feel free to add smoked ham, cooked bacon, grilled chicken, or grilled shrimp to make your own home spin.

George’s Cheddar & Jack Mac

Makes 6 servings

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2 Tablespoons Butter

1 onion, chopped

6 cloves garlic, chopped

2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour

4 cups chicken broth

1 4-ounce can diced green chilies

2 bay leaves

1 teaspoon fresh thyme

1 teaspoon hot sauce

pinch fresh grated nutmeg

2 cups half & half

1 cup sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded

1/2 cup Jack cheese, shredded

2 Tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated

2 Tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped

1 1/2 pounds uncooked elbow, shells, or other small pasta

Melt Butter in a large soup pot or saucepan. Add onion, and garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Add the flour and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Slowly add the broth, and bring to a boil. Lower the heat, add the bay leaves, thyme, diced green chilies, hot sauce, and simmer for 10 minutes.

Stir in the half & half and heat to a simmer. Slowly add the Cheddar, Jack, and Parmesan cheeses, stirring until they melt and the sauce is smooth. Stir in the cooked pasta. Place in a serving dish and eat immediately or sprinkle with Mac Topping, and bake five minutes in a 350 degree oven.

Optional Additions:

1 cup each Chorizo, chopped plum tomatoes

For the Mac Topping

4 Tablespoons butter, melted

6 Tablespoons bread crumbs

2 Tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated

1 Tablespoon each fresh cilantro & parsley, chopped

Fresh ground pepper, to taste

Place all ingredients in a bowl and mix well.