Mini Mac and Cheese Pies and a Virtual Baby Shower

I’m relatively new to the blogging world.  New to who’s who in the blogging world, the traditions, the etiquette, and the community. At first, I was incredibly intimidated by the other bloggers out there-there’s so much talent, so much experience, and so much genuine love, and I was hoping I could keep up with it all.

But, there have been a few bloggers who have welcomed me whole-heartedly into this part of the world, and Josie, from Pink Parsley, has always been one of them.  I’ve grown to love Josie’s blog, seeing her fantastic rendition of many Southern classics, her classic and inviting photography, but, best of all, feeling like I know her when I have never met her in person.  Josie has an incredible love for her family, and it shows in the posts she writes and shares about being a mother and celebrating the lives of her daughter, Caroline, and her husband.  I was so happy when Josie announced that another bundle of joy was going to be soon joining her life…and this time, it would be a little boy.  You can feel her joy emanating from the words she writes about it.

When Annie, the hostess, asked me to be part of Josie’s virtual baby shower I was honored, because to me, Josie epitomizes what it means to be a “good” food blogger.  Love for food, love for authenticity, love for capturing the “emotion” of the food, and love for being herself by telling her life story through her recipes.  Josie has been a rock of support for many food bloggers out there-she’s been a great blogging friend.

As part of the “shower”, we were asked to contribute a dish that we would love to have at an actual shower (and, even though we are not all in person, we are still all celebrating for Josie!).  I wanted to put a little bit of a Southern swing to my contribution in honor of Josie, and, for some reason, Southern food (to me) equates with the ultimate comfort food.  Which basically equals macaroni and cheese.  But I wanted it in a portable, shower-friendly food…and I tried to up the flavor and creaminess factor by adding in some Boursin cheese along with the classic white cheddar.  And, to add a little bit more to the cheesiness (no pun intended), I topped it with a little parsley, also in honor of Pink Parsley. This recipe makes about 8 muffin-sized pies, but I was thinking that you could convert it to a mini muffin pan and decrease the baking time for a true finger food/larger get-together.  I thought these turned out incredibly well-the Ritz cracker crust was heavenly, and the addition of the Boursin cheese definitely made these little pies extra creamy.

While we are not all there with you physically, Josie, know that we love you and cannot wait to meet the little man!

For a round-up of other drool-worthy contributions (by amazing and supportive bloggers) to Josie’s virtual shower, please check out Josie’s and Annie’s (our lovely hostess with the mostest!) websites:

Pink Parsley Catering

Annie’s Eats

 

Mini Mac and Cheese Pies

Servings: 8

Ingredients

1 and 1/2 cups Ritz crackers, crushed**I used one whole sleeve and used my food processor to crush the crackers

2 cups white cheddar cheese, grated and divided

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

4 and 1/2 cups cooked elbow macaroni (about 8 ounces uncooked)

One 5.2-ounce container of Boursin Garlic and Herb cheese

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold

2 large eggs

1/2 cup milk

1/4 cup sour cream

1/4 teaspoon salt

Pinch red pepper flakes

Parsley, for garnish, optional

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2. Generously spray 8 cups of your muffin pan with cooking spray.

3. In a large bowl, combine the crushed Ritz crackers, 1 cup of the shredded white cheddar cheese, and the melted butter, mixing well until the mixture holds together and resembles coarse sand.

4. Divide the mixture among the 8 muffin cups and, using your fingers or the back of a spoon, firmly press the crust into the bottoms and up the sides of each muffin cup.

5. In another large bowl, combine the cooked (and still hot!) macaroni with 1/2 cup of the shredded white cheddar, the Boursin cheese, and the butter, mixing well.

6. In a small bowl, combine the eggs, milk, sour cream, salt, and red pepper flakes, mixing well.

7. Add the egg/milk mixture to the cooked macaroni, mixing until all the ingredients are melted and smooth.

8. Place about 2-3 tablespoons of the macaroni mixture into each muffin cup (you will probably have a little leftover macaroni-I did.  Save this and bake it separately, if desired.)

9. Top each muffin cup with the remaining white cheddar.

10. Bake the mac and cheese pies until lightly golden on top, about 20-25 minutes.

11. Let cool slightly before removing from the muffin pan, garnish with parsley, and serve immediately.

 

Source: Adapted from The Deen Bros. Take it Easy, via Epicurious.

 

August 18, 2011 - 3:01 am

Fried Pickles for Josie’s Virtual Baby Shower » Annie's Eats - […] of The Curvy Carrot dished up these mini mac and cheese pies.  Everyone loves mac and cheese, but it’s not exactly a party friendly food.  Serving […]

August 18, 2011 - 3:19 am

purabi naha - Great pies! These look very tempting!! Nicely written post too!!

August 18, 2011 - 3:33 am

Mary Margaret - These look amazing! I’d never visited Josie’s site, but I’m adding her to my “following” list. Thanks for the recipe, and congratulations to Josie on her impending addition!

August 18, 2011 - 4:21 am

Paula @ Dishing the Divine - Ha! I feel like I know ALL of you as I follow all the blogs you listed. 🙂 So fun! I love virtual showers. 🙂 and these look soooooo tasty!

August 18, 2011 - 7:07 am

Lauren at Keep It Sweet - What a great idea! I love that the blogging community can be so wonderful. These would be amazing at a real-life shower:-)

August 18, 2011 - 7:37 am

Nikki - The fact that this allows me to eat mac ‘n cheese with my fingers sells me on this recipe right away!! Definitely a cute idea!

August 18, 2011 - 8:41 am

Shawnda - I’m with Nikki – finger food mac & cheese? Dangerous! Awesome job, Shanon!

August 18, 2011 - 9:21 am

Annie - Mac and cheese. Boursin. White cheddar. YUMMMMMMMMMM! I love this so much. I also totally love your incorporation of the parsley, and I feel like an idiot that I did not notice that before. Thanks for being part of Josie’s shower!

August 18, 2011 - 9:34 am

Josie - YES, I love mac & cheese as a finger food! You are so sweet, Shanon, thanks so much for the sweet post, and thanks for participating in my virtual shower! I’m so glad Annie “introduced” us – you are awesome!

August 18, 2011 - 10:51 am

karin @ this wife bakes - The most loved food in this house by my kids and hubby is Mac and Cheese. Now you have managed to make it even more lovable. Brilliant! It was great contributing with you and I must put this in my meal plan. I am sure it will be in high rotation!

August 18, 2011 - 11:52 am

Caroline @ chocolate and carrots - Those are beautiful! 🙂 What a great party idea!

August 18, 2011 - 1:08 pm

Kelsey - Fantastic addition to the shower. These looks so delicious. I have a feeling I’ll be making these for my family during the holidays this year.

August 18, 2011 - 1:55 pm

Julia - What a fun idea, a virtual baby shower! And amazing mini mac and cheese pies!!!!

August 18, 2011 - 5:08 pm

branny - Oooh I know I’d love to pop one of these right into my mouth! Delicious.

August 18, 2011 - 7:04 pm

Tara - Shanon, you and I must be on the exact same wavelength. They look outstanding and adorable!

August 18, 2011 - 7:04 pm

Courtney - This recipe is genius and maybe a little dangerous (at least for me). I love that you used Boursin and white cheddar, and the parsley leaf is just too cute. 🙂

August 19, 2011 - 10:47 am

Jackie - Shannon,
I know what you mean about the blogging world and its true, it can be a little bit intimidating and forming friendships is hard enough when your an adult and even more difficult when yr a blogger. I just wanted you to know that I consider you a friend in my head and I even have your blog on my list of blogalicious reads. I love to read your recipes and duplicate them at home whenever possible. These pies are definitly a do!! Best, Jackie

August 19, 2011 - 11:54 am

Heather - I just thought I’d let you know that these made their way into my dreams last night. After I saw this post yesterday I decided to add them to the menu of a baby shower I’m planning. Apparently I must have still been thinking about them when I went to bed because I had a dream I was trying to make them and your instructions called for balancing a quarter at the bottom of the muffin pan (to make it shallower I guess) and to pour the melted butter directly onto the quarter and then add cracker crumbs. I kept trying and trying to do this in my dream but the quarter kept flipping sideways and all the butter would run into the bottom of the tin… after several attempts I decided to forgo the quarter and mix the butter directly into the crackers before pressing them into the pan. 🙂

August 19, 2011 - 12:57 pm

srlacy - Heather-

Your comment just made my day! I love to try to decipher dreams…I wonder what it means? At least I know that it means you have to make these! 🙂
Shanon

August 19, 2011 - 12:57 pm

srlacy - Aw, thanks, Jackie! Food bloggers unite! 🙂

August 29, 2011 - 5:09 pm

Kacey - The recipe looks awesome! I plan to make it for a seven days of new recipes challenge that I’m hosting in Sept. Great blog, as well.

August 30, 2011 - 7:16 pm

I am loving…mini appetizers! « I Do Love It - […] Image & Recipe at: The Curvy Carrot […]

September 14, 2011 - 5:18 pm

Angela Norlen - Wow these look incredible! I don’t cook much ( I’m more of a baker ) but I’m going to convince my fiance to make these straight away!

September 24, 2011 - 8:58 am

Deb @ PaperTurtle - These sound delicious and look great too. This is a really sweet post. So glad you are realizing one of the amazing {and surprising} benefits of blogging: friendship! I have made so many wonderful friends through my blog.

Keep up the good work! xo

September 30, 2011 - 4:25 pm

Stephanie - These look delish! Must try them soon!

October 3, 2011 - 1:53 pm

Mini Mac and Cheese Pies – Not a dessert, but still baked! « Janna's Baking - […] baked as a casserole with a crunchy, salty topping (usually crushed up Corn Flakes). When I found a recipe for mini mac and cheese pies on a blog I just couldn’t pass it […]

October 7, 2011 - 3:15 pm

Heather - Hi,

These look super tasty, and I was thinking it would be a good idea to bring for an upcoming potluck at work… how do you think they would taste reheated?

October 7, 2011 - 4:08 pm

srlacy - Hi Heather-

I ate them as leftovers for several nights in a row after making them (yes, they were that good!) and I just popped them in the microwave to reheat-I thought they were just fine that way. Hope you like them!

October 9, 2011 - 5:24 pm

Susan Anderson - I tried these for a summer party at the cabin, thinking the kids there would love them, they did, but no less than the adults. I’m bringing them to my daughter’s Halloween party, hoping for some inspiration to make the tops look Halloween-y. These will become a new family favorite, I’m sure!

October 12, 2011 - 10:02 am

Jennifer - I found a picture of these on Pinterest and had to come here to find out more about them. I really like your blog… you have a new reader & I can’t wait to try these out! Thanks for sharing!

October 21, 2011 - 2:38 pm

Dalia - HI. Where can i buy this boursin cheese? And if I cannot find it, what is a good substitute for the extra creaminess?
Thank you!

October 21, 2011 - 6:45 pm

srlacy - Hi Dalia-
You can usually find Boursin in the dairy aisle or the specialty cheese section of your grocery store. If you can’t find it, use a soft cheese, maybe even a cream cheese, as a similar substitution. Hope this helps!

October 26, 2011 - 2:00 pm

Mini Mac and Cheese Pies « i FinD Recipes Online - […] Recipe Link Share this:ShareFacebookTwitterDiggEmailPrintLike this:LikeBe the first to like this post. […]

October 29, 2011 - 11:29 am

Erin - I made these last weekend for a baby shower. They were a hit! I used a mini-muffin pan instead of a regular muffin pan. Thanks for the recipe!

November 6, 2011 - 10:52 pm

Bite-size Appetizers and Food | "Bride" Ideas - […] 2. Mini Baked Potatoes from Cooking Light 3. Mini Grilled Cheese Sandwiches from Fresh Tart 4. Mini Mac and Cheese from The Curvy Carrot 5. Mini Tapas from Love of Weddings 6. Mini dougnuts from Martha […]

December 11, 2011 - 12:30 am

Elise - Erin,
When you used the mini muffin pans, how long did you end up cooking them? I want to do these for a little engagement party get together for my daughter who loves Mac n Cheese! Thanks

December 11, 2011 - 10:08 am

srlacy - Hi Elise- I didn’t use a mini muffin pan, just a regular muffin pan.

Shanon

December 20, 2011 - 2:30 pm

Holiday Party Appetizers « Maknwaves - […] Mini Mac and Cheese Cups […]

December 27, 2011 - 8:02 pm

Cooking by emilianagil - Pearltrees - […] The Curvy Carrot » Mini Mac and Cheese Pies and a Virtual Baby Shower 2. Generously spray 8 cups of your muffin pan with cooking spray. 3. In a large bowl, combine the crushed Ritz crackers, 1 cup of the shredded white cheddar cheese, and the melted butter, mixing well until the mixture holds together and resembles coarse sand. 1. […]

January 7, 2012 - 7:25 pm

Holly - These look absolutely delicious, and might I say beautiful!!! I love that you added Boursin cheese (one of my absolute faves) – that was a special treat my grandma would bring me occasionally. I will definitely be trying these soon!

January 10, 2012 - 12:30 pm

Taco Tuesday: Brunchin’ It | | What's Really Good™ Magazine - […] menu consisted of mini mac n’ cheese bites (recipe), huevos rancheros, yogurt parfaits in pots, warm scones w/ raspberry jam (recipe, jam was […]

January 24, 2012 - 1:39 am

To Mac & Cheese Bake « insatiably - […] Kraft Mac & Cheese so thought I would go searching for an amped up version. I came across theCurvy Carrot Blog where the blogger posted a clever way of serving up mac and cheese – in mini pie forms. Now I […]

February 10, 2012 - 6:38 pm

Friday Night Like’s : Cookin' with Moxie - […] Just pinned these Mini Mac and Cheese pies because I thought they were […]

February 14, 2012 - 11:31 pm

Sureya - I just made them for Valentine’s Day dinner for my husband, he LOVED THEM! and told me that they looked like something Chef Marcel would have cooked. =D Thank you for sharing!!

March 18, 2012 - 8:58 pm

Tracy - This is a great recipe! I made them in mini-muffin pans. They took 15 minutes to cook. I had a lot of noodles left over. Next time I would either cut back on the noodles or double the crust to make 2 trays. They were a huge hit at my family gathering.

March 21, 2012 - 2:28 pm

Pinterest Roulette – twincraziness - […] on my pins. The past two weeks I/we made a picture puzzle, attached velcro to Popsicle sticks,  made mac and cheese muffins, baked oatmeal muffins, melted broken crayons, and made a smile snack out of apples, peanut butter, […]

April 8, 2012 - 4:49 pm

Week of April 9th, 2012 « Mommy Poppins' Place - […] Mac ‘N Cheese Pies, Green Beans and Strawberries […]

April 22, 2012 - 7:58 pm

Picnic themed bridal shower - […] Mac and Cheese Cups recipe HERE and Baked Falafel Ball recipe HERE. <- Try BOTH of these. trust me. […]

April 27, 2012 - 3:55 pm

chupp photography | wedding photojournalism | ontario wedding photography - […] recipe sometime. its super easy just takes a while for each layer to set. mac + cheese pies from a curvy carrot. delicious! this is now my go to recipe for mac + cheese. it’s got a bit of spice and a […]

May 21, 2012 - 5:35 am

Mac and Cheese Bites | Annie's Eats - […] The Deen Bros. on Epicurious via The Curvy Carrot […]

June 25, 2012 - 6:29 am
July 14, 2012 - 4:45 pm

Jamie - I made these today and they taste wonderful, the only issue I had was that the crust started crumbling a bit when I removed them from the pan, did this happen to you? I followed the recipe, but wondering if the crackers need more butter to hold it together even more? Thanks

July 15, 2012 - 7:20 pm

srlacy - Hi Jamie-
I didn’t have this problem, but it seems like your idea would be helpful!

July 24, 2012 - 2:42 pm

Momuv3princesses - MMMM!!!! These are VERY yummy!!!! I would probably double (maybe 1.5 times) the ritz cracker mix and not the mac and cheese mix. They fun to make and eat!!! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!!!!

August 1, 2012 - 10:54 pm

Nailing Pinterest | Thirty in Thirty Project - […] I did it: I mixed up the recipe find on the original blog site to fit with what I could find in my local store. I followed the rest of the reciepe, so suggest […]

August 4, 2012 - 11:28 am

Marnie - I made these for a wedding shower yesterday, and they were amazing! I used mini muffin tins. I do have to say, I had my doubts as I was getting them ready for the oven. The crust seemed to take up too much room in the tiny tins, not leaving enough room for the mac and cheese, which seemed like it was just perched in top. I was just about positive that it wasn’t going to set.

Well, I needn’t have worried. They came out perfectly!! And they were the hit of the party! That cheesy cracker crust is the perfect complement. The extra mac and cheese I baked on the side wasn’t nearly as good without it. 😉

August 17, 2012 - 1:03 am

H E Y H E Y O K - […] Mini Mac and Cheese Pies (makes 8) […]

August 28, 2012 - 4:42 pm

Jaimi - Does anyone know the nutrition in this atleast the calories?

September 2, 2012 - 7:52 pm

Mini Mac and Cheese Pies | Daydream Kitchen - […] From: http://www.thecurvycarrot.com/2011/08/18/mini-mac-and-cheese-pies-and-a-virtual-baby-shower/ – THE CURVY CARROT From http://www.thecurvycarrot.com/2011/08/18/mini-mac-and-cheese-pies-and-a-virtual-baby-shower/ […]

September 2, 2012 - 9:33 pm

Mac n Cheese Cups with Pork Shoulder Ragù | Hip Foodie Mom - […] n Cheese Pie Recipe from The Curvy Carrot. Servings: […]

October 14, 2012 - 3:12 am
October 15, 2012 - 9:57 pm

Individual Mac ‘n Cheese - […] thecurvycarrot.com via GO Shop 1017 on Pinterest Filed Under: Delish Recipes Tagged With: mac and […]

October 19, 2012 - 7:21 pm

Mac & Cheese mini pies - […] thecurvycarrot.com via GO Shop 1017 on Pinterest Filed Under: Delish Recipes Tagged With: mac & […]

October 28, 2012 - 7:11 am

Lauradv - Fantastic! I’ll try it for sunday appetizer! Have a nice weekend 😀 Laura

November 8, 2012 - 8:29 pm

Jody - I’m making these right now! Can’t wait to eat them. The only comment I have is there is a HUGE amount of macaroni left over. I think the macaroni portion of the recipe needs to be adjusted to be about half of what is called for.

November 21, 2012 - 2:10 am

Mini Mac and Cheese Pies « Grinelda Markowitz - […] Mini Mac and Cheese Pies […]

November 21, 2012 - 9:29 pm

Ruth-Lee - PHENOMINAL!!!! yummy !!

November 28, 2012 - 1:18 am

Jerrika - Hello… Love the presentation and the recipe looks easy and yummy!!

I have 2 q:

1. Do these freeze well?
2. How far ahead can I make these? Thinking of my daughters bday party!!

Thank you!

November 28, 2012 - 1:45 pm

srlacy - Hi Jerrica-
I have not tried freezing them, but I would think they would be ok. I did store them in my fridge for three days and simply reheated them in the microwave at serving time (you could reheat them in the oven, too) and they were just fine. Have fun and happy birthday to your daughter!

December 9, 2012 - 4:07 pm

Mini Food Ideas - Wedding Ideas, Wedding Trends, and Wedding Galleries - […] Food Ideas & Recipes Source: The Curvy Carrot Source: Sunday Suppers Source: Why Just Eat Source: Peter Callahan […]

December 15, 2012 - 1:36 pm

Holly B - Hi, I am making these today and have 2 quetions,,,can I make them in a mini muffin pan to make more? And, do you think I could freeze them? Theyre for a party in 6 days.

December 15, 2012 - 1:56 pm

srlacy - Hi Holly-

I have not tried making them in a mini muffin pan, but I am sure that it can be done. Just watch them carefully while baking (they may not need to bake as long).
As far as freezing goes, I believe that they will freeze well. I did not freeze them myself. I refrigerated them for about three days, and they reheated well in a toaster oven.

December 15, 2012 - 4:10 pm

Holly B - I just made these mini size, they made 48, I did have to make a little more crumb mixture. I didnt have the Boursin so I subbed equal parts plain greek yogirt and mayo, added dried parsley and garlic powder and pepper. They are so good, I cant wait to make them again next week!

January 6, 2013 - 3:43 pm

Lee W - I served these last night at a large cocktail party. Out of all the yummy things that I served, these got the most comments. Even those who don’t like Mac and cheese loved these. Thank you so much.

January 8, 2013 - 9:02 pm

Claudia` - Could you substitute, rondele for the boursin cheese?? When you reheated them did they dry up?? I need them for a pot luck, so I can make them in the afternoon and then reheat right before I leave for the party.

January 8, 2013 - 10:53 pm

srlacy - Hi Claudia-

I think substituting Rondele would be ok-I think it’s about the same consistency as Boursin, right? When I reheated them, they did dry out slightly, but not anything that would significantly affect the texture. I think you should be fine! Good luck!

January 27, 2013 - 1:46 pm

Erica - How big was the muffin pan you used? I guess mine was normal sized but I had quite a bit of filling left over after I filled my 8. But other than that everything has gone great and now I’m just waiting for them to come out of the oven!!

January 27, 2013 - 2:02 pm

srlacy - Hi Erica-
I used a standard 12-cup muffin pan.

February 10, 2013 - 12:55 pm

Mini Mac and Cheese Cups | What2Cook - […] Recipe: Mini Mac and Cheese Cups […]

February 19, 2013 - 2:35 pm

Loft310 Special EventsFood For Thought - Loft310 Special Events - […] Macaroni Bites- These look too good! […]

February 22, 2013 - 2:15 pm

Defined by Design Events : Make a statement in 2013 with the hottest trends in events! - […] Sources: Mac & Cheese: The Curvy Carrot Shrimp Cocktail: Jo and Sue Mini Burgers & Fries: Pizzazzerie Fruit: Peter […]

April 9, 2013 - 5:23 pm

BASIC LIST / SUGGESTED ITEMS FOR LONG TERM SURVIVAL - Page 323 - ALIPAC - […] Food Fanatics Mac & Cheese mini pies! >> Food Fanatics << Recipe: http://www.thecurvycarrot.com/2011/0…l-baby-shower/ […]

June 13, 2013 - 6:41 pm

Fabulous Father's Day appetizers - is this REALLY my life? | is this REALLY my life? - […] Mini Mac and Cheese Pies from The Curvy Carrot […]

June 24, 2013 - 7:04 pm

Kathleen Kearney - I just found these on Pinterest and want to make them for a party this weekend. Are they OK at room temperature or do they have to be reheated?

June 24, 2013 - 7:19 pm

srlacy - Hi Kathleen,
I’m a bit of a food safety nut, so I would recommend reheating them. Some people have found them to be ok at room temperature, but I personally think they taste better hot.

July 23, 2013 - 8:26 pm

Lynn Roth - I’d like to make these for my daughter’s wedding as an appitizer. I’m going to have to try the reheating part because I need to make at least 100 of them to be reheated at the wedding. Do you think it would work?

July 23, 2013 - 9:00 pm

srlacy - Hi Lynn-

It should work just fine (if you read some of the other reader comments, I think others have tried it with success.) Enjoy, and congrats to your daughter and your family!

August 12, 2013 - 8:38 pm

amy - I subsituted laughing cow cheese (garlic and herb) for the boursin and also added 1 smoked gouda and 1 cup white cheddar. Made this is a casserole pan and put the crumbs on top instead of bottom. Delicious!

August 13, 2013 - 12:17 pm
September 5, 2013 - 11:44 am

Firefighter Themed Birthday Party - […] Mini Mac and Cheese Bites – These were so yummy!  These are great finger foods and were a huge hit.  Cook more than you think you will need because everyone loves Mac and Cheese! I followed the recipe HERE exactly. […]

October 6, 2013 - 3:03 pm

Sue - I cook for Seniors and I think they would really enjoy these for lunch. I usually cook for 64+ and am limited on time. Could I make the crust the day before and refrigerate, then finish the next day? Would it be better to make the day before and reheat in the ovens? Thanks for your blog.i

October 6, 2013 - 4:39 pm

srlacy - Hi Sue-

You could do either, in my opinion. I ate them reheated, and they were just fine, but if you like a more cheesy feel (they do dry a little on the reheating, but not too much), then I would finish the next day. Hope this helps!

October 17, 2013 - 7:03 pm

Barb - Can these be frozen after cooking?

October 17, 2013 - 8:36 pm

srlacy - Hi Barb-

I haven’t tried this, but I definitely think it will work for you.

November 6, 2013 - 9:01 am

Great Ideas for Holiday Appetizers - The Love Nerds - […] Mini Mac and Cheese Cups from The Curvy Carrot […]

November 11, 2013 - 11:24 am

Christmas Party Menu Planning Recipe | Cake and Allie - […] Food • Pizza pinwheels • Lil smokies wrapped in soft pretzels • Mac and cheese bites • Fruit […]

November 11, 2013 - 9:43 pm

Cindy - I made approximately 300 of these delicious mini Mac n cheese bites for a Garden Gala. They do very well at room temp. I didn’t like reheating them, because they do dry out. I also added cayenne pepper for a little more zip. I used green onion/chives for the topping too. Everyone raved about these.

November 13, 2013 - 1:05 am

Faith Dupuis - Question?
When you reheat the Mac and Cheese pies,
do they need be in the muffin tins? will they
lose their shape if reheated on a cookie pan?

November 13, 2013 - 8:57 am

srlacy - Hi Faith-

They will definitely keep their shape-no need for a muffin pan.

November 17, 2013 - 11:33 pm

Baby Shower! | Post Graduate - […] Mac ‘n Cheese cups garnished with parsley (recipe from The Curvy Carrot […]

November 20, 2013 - 3:40 am

Macaroni and Cheese Bites (or a Delicious Baked Macaroni and Cheese) | Cooking with Alison - […] from here; You could use a mini muffin pan to make finger food for a party, or you could use a standard […]

November 21, 2013 - 7:47 am
December 9, 2013 - 10:52 pm

Jen - So excited to make these for a holiday party this weekend. There’s a few who aren’t fans of sour cream. Is there a cheese or another ingredient that would subsitute for that? Is it necessary?

December 9, 2013 - 10:56 pm

srlacy - Hi Jen-
I use Greek yogurt as a substitute for sour cream all of the time.

December 27, 2013 - 5:03 pm

Cindy@Resting Rock Ministry - I’m so excited to try these. We are having our kids and grandkids for Christmas tomorrow and trying to find kid-friendly hor’derves is tough. But these will please EVERYONE 🙂 And thanks for to all the comments as I now realize I can do them ahead and just reheat!! Off to my kitchen 🙂 Blessings for a wonderfful New Year 🙂

December 27, 2013 - 5:03 pm

Cindy@Resting Rock Ministry - I’m so excited to try these. We are having our kids and grandkids for Christmas tomorrow and trying to find kid-friendly hor’derves is tough. But these will please EVERYONE 🙂 And thanks for to all the comments as I now realize I can do them ahead and just reheat!! Off to my kitchen 🙂 Blessings for a wonderfful New Year 🙂

January 1, 2014 - 11:58 am

Mary Rose Ciatti - Hi, I’m attempting to make these this Sunday, 1/5/14, for 14 people in mini pans. I would like to make 24 minis. Will this recipe be enough or do I have to double it?
I read from one person that it would take about 15 minutes to bake. Any other helpful hints?
Thanks so much.

January 1, 2014 - 1:10 pm

srlacy - Hi Mary Rose-

I have not tried it this way, but since the original recipe makes 8 regular (standard) muffin-sized pies, I would think if you were using a mini cupcake pan, you should be able to get at least 16-20 (maybe even 24) mini pies out of the amount of ingredients listed in this recipe. I hope it turns out for you!

January 4, 2014 - 1:28 am

Mini Mac and Cheese Pies | Today's Single Motherhood - […] I hope you enjoy this one as much as I do! If you’d like to visit the original site of this recipe, the link is http://www.thecurvycarrot.com/2011/08/18/mini-mac-and-cheese-pies-and-a-virtual-baby-shower/ […]

March 7, 2014 - 12:22 pm

ellie turned one | this winter in review » Kyle and Vanessa Photography Blog - […] recipe sometime. its super easy just takes a while for each layer to set. mac + cheese pies from a curvy carrot. delicious! this is now my go to recipe for mac + cheese. it’s got a bit of spice and a […]

March 11, 2014 - 5:00 pm

Nancy - Does anyone know if these can be frozen and reheated?

March 11, 2014 - 8:02 pm

srlacy - Hi Nancy-

I personally did not freeze mine, but I should think that they would freeze and reheat well.

March 24, 2014 - 10:42 am

Mini Mac and Cheese Cups - […] instructions For recipe instructions visit : thecurvycarrot.com […]

April 7, 2014 - 6:46 pm

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Monday Inspiration : Late Night Munchies » Nicole George Events - […] 6.  Mac & Cheese // The Curvy Carrot […]

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Cinderella Family Movie Night | Crafting Magical Memories - […] Gus ‘n’ Jaq’s Mini Mac ‘n’ Cheeses, recipe from The Curvy Carrot. […]

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Yolanda Daniels - Macaroni cupcakes

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18 Mind Blowing Hacks For Food On-The-Go | Low Boredom - […] Find out how to make them right here! […]

White Cheddar Garlic Biscuits

Yep, these are just like THOSE cheesy garlic biscuits from a well-known American seafood restaurant chain.  Except they are homemade and you secretly won’t feel so guilty eating a whole baking pan of them because you won’t have to sheepishly ask the server for more.

We recently had a gloomy, rainy weekend, and I was craving something filling and warm-maybe  a bowl of soup or something like that.  I did a quick inventory of my pantry and realized that I had everything I needed (and you probably do too, right now) to make these to go along with something filling, too.  And since I never leave the grocery store without at least two types of cheese, I had plenty on hand.  I decided to run with a white cheddar, but you could add pretty much any kind of cheese to these biscuits.  I upped the garlic salt in my batch, so you might want to hold back a bit on the salt if you aren’t a fan.  I thought about adding in parsley or some fresh herbs, but I was hungry and wanted these as soon as possible.  Feel free to add in whatever kind of extra flavor you like-I feel like cheddar is conducive to almost any kind of flavor.

I did decide to make a melted butter/garlic salt sauce to brush on the warm biscuits right when they came out of the oven, which made them (in my opinion) so much better.

These biscuits truly are so easy to make and are a great addition to any kind of meal (or on their own, as I made a meal of just them one evening. 😉 )

White Cheddar and Garlic Biscuits

Servings: approximately 15 biscuits

Ingredients

For the biscuits:

2 and 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

2 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons sugar

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into 1-tablespoon pieces

1 and 1/2 cups white cheddar cheese, shredded

1 cup buttermilk

1 teaspoon garlic salt

For brushing:

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted

1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.

2. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, sugar, baking soda, and salt.

3. Using your fingers or a pastry cutter, add the butter, pinching and mixing it thoroughly until the dough resembles coarse sand.

4. Add the white cheddar and stir to combine.

5. Add the buttermilk and garlic salt, stirring well to combine.  **If the dough seems a little dry, add a little more buttermilk, 1 teaspoon at a time, until the dough holds together.

6. Drop the dough onto the baking sheet, spacing each biscuit about 2 inches apart.

7. Bake the biscuits for about 18-20 minutes, or until the tops are lightly golden.

8. In a small bowl, combine the melted butter and garlic salt.

9. Remove the biscuits from the oven and lightly brush each one with the melted butter/garlic mixture.  Serve immediately.

 

Source: Adapted from Gourmet.

 

August 16, 2011 - 5:57 am

Blog is the New Black - I’ve made something very similar… these sounds incredible! 🙂

August 16, 2011 - 6:25 am

Annie - Yum. I made a knock-off recipe for those long ago, but it called for Bisquick which I never use. I’ll have to try this version but mix in Old Bay – I think that’s one of their “secrets”. Also, I love the top photo – beautiful! (And I have that same towel!)

August 16, 2011 - 6:30 am

srlacy - Hahha! Food and Light Swag Bag 2010!!! 🙂

August 16, 2011 - 9:21 am

Tes - What a lovely biscuit recipe! It sounds warm and comforting 🙂

August 16, 2011 - 10:41 am

Barefeet In The Kitchen - These sound wonderful. I just pinned this. Thanks!

August 17, 2011 - 10:31 am

Hilary - Definitely making these with some lobster bisque this week, Thanks!!!

August 19, 2011 - 7:33 am

» White Cheddar and Garlic Biscuits bakingbad.com - […] from The Curvy Carrot […]

August 21, 2011 - 6:03 pm

Peggy - Oh I love making these biscuits at home! My brother used to be a GM at that chain restaurant and said it was basically Bisquick, cheddar cheese, and garlic and I haven’t been able to eat at the restaurant in years after finding that out. lol

But these right here – these I’m know I’m going to enjoy!

August 24, 2011 - 6:27 pm

Amanda - I made these last night and they were absolutely amazingly delicious! Thank you for the recipe. I froze the leftovers and reheated some tonight and they were still fantastic!

September 5, 2011 - 5:39 pm

Andrea - I’m making these tonight and I can’t wait!! I love garlic, so I think I’m going to chop up some fresh garlic instead of just the garlic salt 🙂

September 26, 2011 - 8:27 pm

Megan - I made these tonight and followed the recipe exactly, except I added about half a cup more cheddar. YMMV, but if you love cheese like I do, keep a VERY CLOSE eye on your oven. I checked my biscuits at 16 minutes and they were very very well done. Totally my fault, but just a heads up to all the cheese-lovers out there! 🙂 (They were still tasty, and the ones I cooked without burning were delicious!)

September 26, 2011 - 9:25 pm

Megan - Also, one more note – the batch that turned out right was done in just 6 minutes at 450.

December 1, 2012 - 11:40 pm

Old Mother Hubbard Learns Her ABCs « Enjoying Our Journey - […] me via the phone suggests some garlic cheddar biscuits. Using her mad computer skills, she finds this recipe which is close to the one she uses. A quick scan over the ingredient list brings a sigh. I […]

December 5, 2012 - 11:03 pm

thanksgiving! « grace garden - […] Whole Grain white cheddar biscuits Adapted from Curvy Carrot […]

Summer Squash Veggie Sloppy Joes

I’m often highly amused by people’s reactions when I tell them I don’t eat any meat.  Some are super supportive and open-minded, but then you get THOSE people, you know, the ones who immediately splurt out, “Oh my gosh, how can you NOT eat meat?  What do you even eat?”  I just find it funny.  Because if I am with people who order meat on the menu, I don’t even give it a second thought.  I believe one of the most important choices you can make as a human being is what you put into your body…because I believe you are truly what you eat.  And there are tons of reasons why I don’t eat it: ethical, spiritual, environmental, and, obviously, health reasons.  But I don’t find it necessary to go on a 30-minute explanation every time I am asked this (which happens a lot with a food blog).

I think one of the best parts about cooking in general is the creative liberty that allows one to have.  You can create something with your brains and bare hands…to your liking.  True, sometimes there are major kitchen fails (we all have them), and sometimes there are surprise culinary victories that not only can make you feel full physically but full mentally, as well.  If you are willing to think outside of the box (especially for me, coming from a delicious corn-fed Midwestern diet), then I believe that you will open yourself up to incredible new tastes and experiences.

Take this recipe.  A vegetarian Sloppy Joe?  Actually, a VEGAN Sloppy Joe without the cheese?  Really?  With lots of fresh veggies added in, too.  None of that greasy goopy taste that I still remember from my childhood (this will not channel Adam Sandler’s Lunch Lady song for you, I promise).  Amazingly enough, though, it still has that ooey gooey Sloppy Joe texture that I believe is part of the attraction to the sandwich in the first place.  Made with fresh summer squash, carrots, celery, and onions, you can virtually add any other kind of fresh veggie into the mix.  Red or green bell peppers.  Maybe some spinach or kale. How about other kinds of squash?  Yep.  Top this with basically whatever cheese you have on hand, and enjoy.

Sloppy Joe, Sloppy, Sloppy Joe.

Summer Squash Veggie Sloppy Joes

Servings: approximately 6

Ingredients

3/4 pound (One 12-ounce package) soy crumbles**I used Lightlife’s Smart Ground Original

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

1 small yellow onion, chopped

1 carrot, chopped

1 celery stalk, chopped

1 and 1/2 cups summer squash, grated**I peeled it, de-seeded it, and grated it on the large holes of a box grater

One 6-ounce can of tomato paste

1 and 1/2 cups water

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon dried oregano

Salt and pepper, to taste

1 cup cheese, grated, optional**I used sharp cheddar (so good!), but you can use whatever you like

6 hamburger buns or focaccia rolls, toasted

 

Instructions

1. In a large sauté pan over medium heat, heat the olive oil until shimmering.

2. Add the soy crumbles and cook, breaking them up with a spatula, stirring occasionally (as the package directs), about 4-5 minutes.

3. Add the chopped onion and cook, stirring occasionally, about two minutes.

4. Add the carrot and celery and cook, stirring occasionally, for another two minutes or so.

5. Add the summer squash to the mixture, mixing well and cooking for another minute or so.

6. Add the tomato paste and water, stirring to dissolve completely.

7. Add the garlic, chili powder, paprika, dried oregano, and salt and pepper, and mix until thoroughly combined.

8. Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue to cook until the mixture is thickened, stirring occasionally, about 8-10 minutes.

9. Once thickened, place your desired amount of the mixture on each hamburger bun, top with cheese, and serve immediately.

Source: Adapted from Cookie, via Epicurious.

 

August 15, 2011 - 5:06 am

Blog is the New Black - Looks great, Shanon! I do eat meat, but I am always up for veg options and this looks like a winner, for sure!

August 15, 2011 - 9:22 am

Stephanie @ Vegetarian Bakeaholic - I was JUST thinking about veggie sloppy joes. These look FANTASTIC!

August 15, 2011 - 9:59 am

Noelle - Lovely! These look super delicious!

August 15, 2011 - 2:55 pm

Rachel - Sloppy joes, my favorite! And I’m a vegetarian too. I suppose that sounds a little odd. I always loved sloppy joes when I was a meat-eating kid and now that I have no desire to ingest ground beef ever again I’m always looking for ways to adapt this dish to my diet.
It’s true, there’s nothing weird about not eating meat. I don’t miss it at all and I’m confident that I’m making the right choice on what to put in my body.

August 15, 2011 - 4:08 pm

myFudo - This looks delicious and healthy. Sloppy joes a must make. Love the photos

August 16, 2011 - 10:20 am

Jina - Yummy! We recently had a 40th birthday party for my brother who is a vegetarian and I wanted to have sloppy joe’s on the menu. So I had my mom make her traditional meat version, while I took on the challenge of making a meatless version. I searched recipes and didn’t find one particular recipe that completely encompassed my vision, so I just sort of did my own thing using a couple of recipes as inspiration and keeping in mind the “from scratch” version of the sauce that my mom has always made. Wow, they were delicious!! While I was very proud of the outcome of the dish I created, I was also proud to prove to the doubters that a traditionally meat-centered dish can be made meatless and still be very tasty! And I’m not even vegetarian!!

August 18, 2011 - 9:07 am

Lynn - shannon- we love your recipes here in derm!!! Keep baking for us!!!

August 18, 2011 - 2:07 pm

mike @ the lil house that could - I’m not really a fan of those soy/smart crumbles… How is this thing without them?

August 18, 2011 - 2:38 pm

srlacy - I am not sure because I haven’t tried it without the soy meat….I think the consistency would be a little off, but the spice/veggie combination would still probably give a great overall flavor. Let me know how it turns out if you omit the soy crumbles…I’m intrigued!

September 5, 2011 - 2:24 pm

Wry House - […] Vegan Sloppy Joes at the Curvy Carrot Garlic Fries at Bon Appetit Share this:TwitterFacebookLike this:LikeBe the first to like this post. Published: September 5, 2011 Filed Under: Uncategorized […]

September 15, 2011 - 2:39 am

Craving > One Pot Recipes for Sloppy Joes | foodiecrush - […] give them a try– added to a bunch of veggies creates The Curvy Carrot‘s Summer Squash Veggie Sloppy Joes. Follow Shanon to the way and you just might never go […]

September 28, 2011 - 12:24 pm

shaheen - I love the sound of this and with autumn kicking in, its something to make for sure.

May 12, 2013 - 1:58 pm

Summer Squash Veggie Sloppy Joes - […] source:   thecurvycarrot.com […]