Hey, foodies!

Do I have a hot damn, delicious dish for you! You deserve something tasty, since I’ve been neglecting my writing duties for sooooooo long.

I could give you some lame excuse about one of my chefs quitting abruptly, all the crazy hours I’ve been putting in driving back and forth around our state trying to keep up with the needs of each store, blah, blah, blah, but you don’t want to hear that.

What you want is some good eatin’ secret weapon, win-the-girl, wow-the-guy kinda recipes, so here you go…

Spicy Bacon Mac and Cheese. Now, just let that sink in for a bit. The name just doesn’t quite hit you hard enough the first time, so I will say it again: Spicy….BACON….Mac & Cheese!!!

Pick yourself up off of the floor and I will answer your next question: “How do I get me somma dat?” Well, as with most great things in life, you’re gonna have to put a little effort into it and make it. Here’s the recipe, which was created by Corvallis Market of Choice Chef Kirk Veroneau:

Spicy Bacon Mac & Cheese

Serves 8.

6 c rotini pasta
1T vegetable oil
8 strips bacon, diced
1 lg red bell pepper diced
1 sm can la Victoria diced jalapeños, drained
2 c evaporated milk
6 green onions, chopped
½ c sliced black olives
1 c shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 c shredded cheddar cheese

Cook pasta in lightly salted, boiling water until al dente (approx. 10 min.). Drain pasta and set aside. In large sauce pan, brown bacon and peppers in oil, then drain. Add pasta and all remaining ingredients to pot. Bring to light boil, stirring constantly, and turn heat down. Simmer for 5 min, stirring frequently until sauce starts to thicken. Turn off heat and let stand for 5 min.

It’s incredibly easy. If you ask real nice, your Market Chefs will make it for you! This holds it’s own as a soul satisfying stand alone entrée with bacon, creamy cheese sauce, bacon, lots of veggies, (bacon!) and some real nice spice from a little jalapeño. Oh, and did I mention the bacon?

When we sampled this masterpiece at the Corvallis store’s Open House, there was more than one happy taster who remarked “THAT is the BEST mac and cheese I have ever had!” You will just have to try it and judge for yourself.

Afterward, as you wipe away a few tears of joy, you’ll likely be thinking “What an epiphany! All my life, I’ve been lied to about Mac & Cheese and now, finally, I’ve tasted a little piece of heaven. The veil has been lifted!” Or maybe that’s just what runs through my head and you will just simply smile and shine like Buddha.

Like I said, if you need some help making this, stop by your Market Kitchen and ask! It’s what we’re here for. Well, that and eating Spicy Bacon Mac and Cheese.

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