Cook Away Your Cabin Fever in Pigeon Forge

Fried Mac N’ Cheese Bites:

• Food Network has a great recipe for mac n’ cheese bites!
• Ingredients:
  • 1 pound elbow macaroni
  • 2 TB unsalted butter
  • 2 TB all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups milk, warmed, plus 2 TB for egg wash
  • 1 pound grated cheddar
  • 1 pound grated smoked gouda
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 large eggs
  • 3 cups seasoned bread crumbs
  • Vegetable oil, for frying
  • Marinara or alfredo sauce, to serve
• Instructions:
  • Cook the macaroni according to package instructions. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking. Drain again and set aside.
  • In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Sprinkle the flour into the butter and stir it with a whisk. Cook for 2 minutes. Whisk the warmed milk into the flour mixture, working out any lumps. Cook until the sauce thickens, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat, add the cheeses, and stir until melted and smooth; season with salt and pepper. Fold the cheese sauce into macaroni. Pour the mac and cheese into a shallow pan and refrigerate until cold, at least 2 hours.
  • Shape the cold mac and cheese into meatball-sized balls and place them onto a waxed paper-lined tray. Freeze the balls overnight.
  • Beat the eggs and 2 tablespoons milk together to form an egg wash and pour it into a shallow bowl. Put the bread crumbs into another shallow bowl. Remove the mac and cheese balls from the freezer. Dip the frozen balls into the egg wash then into the bread crumbs. Put the balls back into the freezer until you are ready to fry.
  • Heat the oil in a deep-fat fryer to 350 degrees F. Fry the mac and cheese balls until they are golden brown and center is hot, about 5 minutes. Serve hot with your favorite marinara or Alfredo sauce or combination or both for dipping.

Homemade Hot Chocolate:

• BeautyandBedlam.com have a great 5 minute homemade hot chocolate recipe!
• Ingredients:
  • 2 cups instant non-fat dry milk powder
  • 1 cup sugar (powdered or granular works too)
  • 3/4 cup powdered nondairy creamer
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • mini marshmallows
• Instructions:
  • In a large bowl, combine the creamer, milk powder, sugar, salt, and cocoa powder.
  • Mix to combine.
  • Pour into air tight container or freezer bag for storage.
  • Add 1/3 cup of cocoa mix to 1 cup boiling water. (Or use 1/2 hot milk for a more decadent cocoa.)
  • Mix well.
  • Add chocolate chips and stir until melted. Depending on how “chocolatey” you want it, the amount will vary. Taste test will tell.
  • Sprinkle top with mini marshmallows and whip cream.

Snow Cream:

• Becentsable has a quick and easy recipe for snow cream.
• Ingredients:
  • 4 cups snow
  • 1 cup milk
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 1 tsp. Vanilla
• Mix and enjoy!

Fudge:

• Allrecipes.com has a wonderful homemade fudge recipe!
• Ingredients:
  • 1 jar marshmallow crème
  • 1 ½ cups white sugar
  • 2/3 cup evaporated milk
  • ¼ cup butter
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 cups milk chocolate chips
  • 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
  • ½ cup chopped nuts
  • 1 tsp. Vanilla extract
• Instructions:
  • Line an 8×8 inch pan with aluminum foil. Set aside.
  • In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine marshmallow cream, sugar, evaporated milk, butter and salt. Bring to a full boil, and cook for 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
  • Remove from heat and pour in semisweet chocolate chips and milk chocolate chips. Stir until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Stir in nuts and vanilla. Pour into prepared pan. Chill in refrigerator for 2 hours, or until firm.