Lobster Mac 'n Cheese


Thanksgiving menu at our house is all about the classics: roasted turkey, gravy, stuffing, cranberries, mashed potatoes and of course pumpkin pie with lots of whipped cream. Thanksgiving 2016 I decided to up my game and serve Baked Macaroni and Cheese with Lobster instead of sweet potatoes topped with brown sugar streusel.

Makes (1) 9" x 9" baking dish

1 -pound Bacon
1/2 - pound uncooked, Cavatappi pasta

Roux:
4 oz. butter
1/4 cup flour

1 cup Milk
3/4 - pound Fontina cheese, cubed or shredded
3/4 - pound Smoked Gouda cheese, cubed or shredded
1 tea. fresh cracked Black Pepper
1/2 tea. Salt
1 Garlic clove, crushed.
1/2 cup cooked Lobster meat

Finely dice bacon into 1/2-inch pieces and fry in saute pan until crispy, drain on paper towels.

Cook Cavatappi pasta in plenty of well salted boiling water until al-dente (firm and not mushy), then drain and hold aside. Elbow macaroni may be substituted.

In a tall sided pot melt butter over medium heat, add flour when butter is thoroughly melted and bubbling. Use a whisk to stir and blend butter flour mixture.  When thoroughly incorporated and beginning to cook, slowly add milk and keep whisking to blend. You have now made a Bechamel Sauce.  Reduce heat slightly and add cubed or shredded cheeses to the Bechamel continuing to whisk so that the cheese does not burn.  Gouda cheese takes a little longer to melt so take your time stirring constantly. If sauce becomes too thick, add a small amount of milk to loosen it to the desired sauce consistency.

When cheese has completely melted, remove pot from hot stove and stir in crushed garlic, salt and black pepper.  Add cooked pasta and lobster meat to cheese sauce and stir gently until well mixed. Pour mixture into butter greased baking dish.  Sprinkle cooked bacon over the top of the casserole.

Bake in 325-degree preheated oven for 20 minutes until edges turn golden.

OPTIONS:

1)  I purchased 2 small lobster tails and cooked them in salted boiling water. After removing the meat I placed empty tail shells in sauce pan with 4 oz. butter and began to saute, then added about 2 cups of water to simmer and reduced to about 1/2 cup of lobster broth which was added to melted cheese sauce.

2) Add a splash of Brandy to cheese sauce.

3)  Reserve 1 Tbl. bacon grease and add to cheese sauce.

4)  1/8 tsp. Cayenne Pepper