The NHL season has already begun but tonight, for the hockey fans out there, is the unofficial beginning of the real hockey viewing season as it’s the first Saturday night transmission of Hockey Night in Canada.
Regular readers will know that I’m a huge hockey fan and that my heart belongs to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
I’ll give you a moment to make the usual assortment of Leafs’ jokes.
[pause]
Okay, now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, I’m happy to announce that in honour of this season’s first HNIC broadcast, Peabody of Culinary Concoctions by Peabody and Mary of The Sour Dough have joined me in preparing a hockey fan’s meal to be enjoyed throughout the game.
Mary is in charge of Appetizers, I’m in charge of the Main and Peabody, of course, is in charge of Dessert.
This idea came about as a result of several different conversations between both Mary and Peabody and myself. Peabody, of course, is my soulmate in both baking and hockey. I never have to worry that she won’t understand when I gripe about why people don’t like to bake and she totally hears my pain when it comes to the Leafs.
Mary and I share an undying love for Steve Yzerman. Enough said.
So what am I bringing to the HNIC potluck? Good ol’ baked macaroni and cheese! On Saturday nights, when the hockey game is on, I do not want to be in the kitchen all night. I do not want to be cleaning up for hours. I do not want to be anywhere but in front of the television and baked macaroni and cheese is the perfect dish. You can make it earlier in the day and just heat it up when you’re ready to eat (first intermission, after Coach’s Corner).
Baked macaroni and cheese is a very easy dish. It essentially consists of a cheese sauce, macaroni and a breadcrumb topping. You can add anything you like to those basics from ham to mushrooms to tomatoes. I’m a bit of a mac and cheese purist so I don’t add anything to my dish but you are certainly welcome to experiment.
The recipe that I use originally comes from Fine Cooking. The only difference in my version is that I don’t use Tabasco or Worcestershire sauce, and I don’t use a sharp white cheddar, but rather a sharp yellow cheddar. I also bake the macaroni and cheese in smaller containers that I can freeze so that whenever I have the craving for mac and cheese I can just defrost and warm it in the oven.
So this is what we’re having as a Main tonight. I can’t wait to see what Mary and Peabody have in store for us!
Have a good game, everyone. Go Leafs Go!
Ciao!
20 comments
Rosa
OMG, that Macaroni Cheese looks so scrumptious!
Cheers,
Rosa
natalie
YEAHHHH HOCKEY!!!
i’m actually watching the detroit/st.louis game right now! your maple leafs are playing in my town tonight!! oh and i share your undying love for yzerman too!!
peabody
Yay! Such a good choice! I love me some Mac and Cheese. We are having bacon sandwiches, because that is what my family and I used to eat a lot on HNIC nights.
The Waspy Redhead
Wow that looks super delicious! I think I will make some mac and cheese tomorrow. So glad to have you back from Italy and blogging again!
Lydia (The Perfect Pantry)
My Montreal Canadiens-loving husband is so disappointed that there’s no Habs game on tonight. If there were, I’d have had to make something luscious…. like mac and cheese!
Breadchick Mary
OMG!! Mac and Cheese is what we would eat on Saturday nights during the game too. Mom would always head out to spend the evening with friends leaving Dad to cook for us.
Good thing I brought my “Big Girl” plate over here for the main dish.
VeggieGirl
Hooray for game time and for a comforting dish!
Natashya
I’ll pass on the hockey, (sorry!), but I would love a big bowl of Mac and Cheese!
Paz
A fun meal to have for the game. Have fun both with the meal and watching the game.
Paz
Karen
Mmm, that looks delicious. It dawned on me though, while reading your post, that other than Kraft Dinner (ugh), I don’t think I’ve ever had REAL macaroni and cheese. Dear god, what a sad life I’ve lead…
Allison Jones
Woah. Football AND mac & cheese? I think half of my male friends just fell in love with you.
Lauren
He he – Love HNIC, when hockey is on. Mac and Cheese looks like the perfect game-time meal =D.
George@CulinaryTravels
I’ve never liked mac ‘n’ cheese but your dish looks so delightfully tempting I may have to try it again
Claudia Haas
I watch high school hockey (MN). So0 kknow the feeling if I don’tfollow the WILD (MN hockey team). Your mac and cheese is scrumptious… perfect … deliious and love that you iintertwined it with hockey!
Claudia
deeba
Nam nam nam nam nam…love your mac & cheese…tempting and how!! What a great idea you guys had!
tina
LOVE me some hockey! Blues fan here——- no apologies made. I will be there in person in a couple of weeks, can’t wait.
Daydreams of Baking
Yeah hockey! I’m a die-hard Wings fan myself. Though I don’t get many hockey games on TV here in Wisconsin. Sigh…
Anyway, that Mac and Cheese looks so yummy. Mmm. Melty and cheesy pasta… I don’t think I’ve ever made my own baked macaroni and cheese before. I’ll have to give it a try soon.
Erika from The Pastry Chef At Home
I know nothing of hockey, but I do know something about macaroni and cheese. That close up on the fork is driving me insane.
Jane
YES, I am so ready for the beginning of hockey season.
Go, Redwings!
And as far as Steve Yzerman goes, he is so cute I could eat him with a spoon!!
Robyn@FineCooking.com
Ivonne. . .you’re totally awesome! Thanks for loving Fine Cooking’s mac-n-cheese and sharing the recipe with your followers. We appreciate it. Go Leafs!
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