"squashed" Macaroni and Cheese
Source: www.food.com/recipe/squashed-macaroni-and-cheese-232715
Ingredients
- 14 cup browned unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons room temperature butter
- 1 medium butternut squash, halved and seeded
- 1 medium acorn squash, halved and seeded
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- salt
- pepper
- 1 lb elbow macaroni
- 12 cup heavy cream
- 12 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- 34 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 18 cup mascarpone cheese
- 13 cup fresh ricotta cheese
- 12 cup fresh breadcrumb
- 14 cup ground store-bought amaretto cookies (optional)
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 with oven racks placed in the upper and lower third of the oven.
- Butter a large casserole (approx.
- 10 x 7 inch) with 1 tablespoon room-temperature butter; set aside.
- Place squash on a rimmed baking sheet and evenly coat with oil.
- Rub the cut sides and the cavities of each squash with the remaining room-temperature butter.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Place cut sides down, and bake until squash is soft, approximately 45 minutes.
- When the squash is cool enough to handle, scoop flesh into the bowl of a food processor or stand mixer.
- Add cream, milk and nutmeg, and blend until smooth.
- Season with salt and pepper and blend well.
- Set mixture aside.
- Continue to heat oven to 350 degrees.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
- Add pasta and cook according to package instructions until slightly under cooked.
- The pasta will continue to cook in the oven.
- Drain and add to bowl with squash mixture.
- Add Parmesan and mascarpone cheeses.
- Stir until well combined.
- Transfer mixture to prepared baking dish.
- Place spoonfuls of ricotta cheese on top of the pasta mixture.
- Place the bread crumbs, amaretto crumbs (optional), and browned butter into a small bowl, and stir to combine.
- Sprinkle mixture evenly over the surface of the squash and macaroni.
- Bake for about 30 minutes, until golden brown and heated through.