Gouda & Bacon Mac-and-Cheese Cups + Wisconsin Cheese Giveaway

I participated in Mom Blog Tour at the Summer Fancy Food Show on behalf of Wendy’s Bloggers and received Wisconsin Cheese products to facilitate my review. #MomBlogTourFF

 In a few weeks, the boys are going to be heading back to school. I am using these next few weeks buying school supplies, new clothes, and coming up with new lunch ideas. 

You see, I have a pretty picky eater on my hands. He likes a hot lunch (chicken nuggets, leftovers, etc.) and it can get old warming up lunch in the morning. So this year, I am trying to come up with lunch ideas I can make in bulk. This way I can warm up and pop in the thermos and off he goes! 

The kid is a cheese lover so a lot of his lunches involve cheese. When I visited the Wisconsin Cheese booth during the #MomBlogTourFF, they gave us a lot of fun and easy ideas for school lunches, like carrots wrapped with Vern’s String Cheese Whips or your own “lunchables” of cheese and crackers.

When thinking about what I could make ahead of time, I immediately thought about mac-and-cheese. Instead of making an entire tray, I thought about making individual servings in a muffin tin! 

Gouda & Bacon Mac-and-Cheese Cups

To make your own Gouda and Bacon Mac-and-Cheese cups, you will need:

• 16oz elbow macaroni, cooked and drained
• 4 Tbsp butter
• 2 1/4 cup skim milk
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp ground black pepper
• 1/2 tsp dry mustard
• 2 tsp worcestershire
• 1lb Marieke Gouda gouda cheese, shredded
• 1/2 lb Hook’s sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
• 5 slices bread (about 2 cups crumbs)
• 3 Tbsp butter, melted
• 1/2 cup bacon, cooked and crumbled

Start by preparing the macaroni according to package directions and set aside.

In large pot, melt butter over medium high heat. Add skim milk and bring to near boiling. Reduce heat to medium and sprinkle in flour. Whisk vigorously over medium heat for 1-2 minutes. Mixture should be thick and boiling. Slowly add cream, while whisking. Add in salt, pepper, mustard and worcestershire sauce. Reduce heat to low and continue to stir for about 5 minutes. In a food processor, shred Gouda and Cheddar cheese. Add to pot, stir until thoroughly combined.

Add cooked macaroni to cheese mixture. Scoop the mac-and-cheese into greased muffin pans. (You could also make this in a 13×9 pan.)

In same food processor bowl (no need to wash it after shredding the cheese), process 5 slices of bread to a fine crumb. Add melted butter. Sprinkle over macaroni. Top with crumbled bacon and a cherry tomato slice (optional).

Bake uncovered in a 375 degree oven for 25-30 minutes. Let your mac-and-cheese cup rest so they hold their shape! You can also bake in baking cups.

 

About Wisconsin Cheese

The Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board (WMMB) is a nonprofit organization funded by Wisconsin’s dairy farmers that promotes the more than 600 varieties, types and styles of Wisconsin cheese and other dairy products from America’s Dairyland. Many of Wisconsin’s dairy farms have been in operation for generations, and are continuing to involve the next generation of family members. On their dairy farm operations, approximately 90% of the milk produced is sent to neighboring dairies to create Wisconsin’s signature food: cheese

You can learn more about Wisconsin Cheese products on their website and by following along on Facebook and Twitter. Looking for more recipes? Check out more Wisconsin Cheese recipes from the #MomBlogTourFF!

• Wendy’s Blackberry and Blue Cheese Endive Appetizer
• Reesa’s Tips on How to Put Together a Cheese Board
• Kelly’s Decadent Pear, Fig, and Gouda Tart
• Tiffany’s Venezuelan Tequeños
• Lindsay’s Potato Stacks with Gouda

You can find even more yummy recipes on Wisconsin Cheese’s Instagram! 

Wisconsin Cheese Giveaway

One lucky reader will win assorted Wisconsin Cheese and kitchen items; MSRP $100.  This giveaway is open to US residents ages 18+ only and will end at 11:59pm ET on August 22, 2016.

One winner per household, email address, or home address. If you have won this prize on another blog you are ineligible to win again. Winner must have a U.S.-based address to receive the prize.