Feline Feast: Homey Fudz

[kampachi]

Every time I leave town generous, kind-hearted, and saint-like friends cat sit.  Good deeds have to be repaid and this means I cook a dinner for my kitty guardians of awesome.  The dinners usually have a theme.  This time around it was Homey Comfort foods.  The menu was:

Ham & Cheese (appetizer)

Scallop Pot Pie Deconstructed (first course)

Moo In A

Comments

[jiai1]

WOW. This all looks and sounds incredible!!!
I want to try out the deconstructed pot pie recipe sometime, as well as the OCD Mac N Cheese. Omg.

If you lived in MN, I'd cat sit! :)

[kampachi]

Thank you! Sadly in CA. I reccomend a comfy chair while OCD Mac-ing :)

[sarcasticsiren]

You pipe every individual noodle? I am BEYOND impressed. Everything looks so freaking good, ESPECIALLY the mac and cheese, and I am a mac and cheese freak. I will gladly cat sit if you will keep me in macaroni!!!

[kampachi]

Thank you!!! I was a little disapointed that most of the photos didn't come out.
Do you have a favorite Mac & Cheese recipe?

[sarcasticsiren]

I am weirdly obsessed with creating the perfect mac and cheese, but my fiancee doesn't seem to mind. He took an awesome photo of my last attempt but has yet to upload it...

My basic recipe is 2 tbsp butter, 2 tbsp floor to make a roux, then add two cups milk (not necessarily whole, usually 1%), and then mix in various cheeses until I get a flavor I like. To be completely honest, the very best mix is heavy on Velveeta. I know, please don't hurt me, that's not real cheese, but it melts best and has a strong cheesy taste. I have tried like, every cheese, and the secret is always stupid Velveeta. I like to blend in Coby Jack, sharp cheddar, gruyere, or ementhal...just depends what's at hand! Then I toss the sauce with the noodles plus a bunch of Italian seasoning, then into the oven with lots of bread crumbs to get a crispy top. Eeee mac and cheese! Never thought of piping each noodle, though...yours is much fancier, and I'd love to try it with the ricotta and the shallots!!

[kampachi]

Mmmmmm the hunt for the holy Mac & Cheese grail :)

I found using whipped cream cheese or a little heavy cream with different cheeses makes it easier to get control over the melting/blending.

I am kicking myself for not using a great orange cheddar not only for the flavor but also for the color. Mac and Cheese needs a little orange in my world!

[chumas]

I'm so doing the decon pot pie.
And hooray for random food pyromania! :D

[kampachi]

Fire ftw! You just gave me an idea for a Feline Feast... Scorchers!

[sandowl]

I will watch your cat if I can have some of that OCD pasta!!!

[diekatze1]

seconded.

[kampachi]

Thank you!

[kampachi]

I need to convince my neighbors :)

[llennhoff]

You have the strangest notion of comfort food imaginable, but it all looks incredibly yummy.

[kampachi]

Thank you - I like to play with my food :)