A sandwich that Elvis would be proud of. A grilled cheese sandwich with macaroni and cheese in the middle of it, with a crispy buttery crust on the bread. The mac and cheese has a special ingredient. Can you guess what? Booze, yeah it has beer in it. Yum! It’s like a nice creamy cheese beer soup but with pasta in it. Such an indulgence. This is some thing you bring to your tailgate make the make the mac and cheese the night before and then make the sandwich there. This is something you eat when you are feeling sorry for yourself, or on a cold fall evening.

You probably could win over a man with this sandwich, with a cup of soup of course. You have to make them full. Only problem you have to approach this person to even ask him hey want to come over for dinner. But by my rules we would have to go on 3 dates before that happens. So you’re kinda sitting at home with a bunch of cheese and pasta. Because you have childhood issues that kinda make you have this thing called social issues, AKA social anxiety. Look you know when you have to fake it. You fake it so good sometimes people have a hard time believing it. But here is the thing I don’t go out of my way to say “Hi” or ” You look nice today.” I know, I know its kinda rude but I just can’t do it. I don’t need to know that yada, yada, yada. My life is an endless Seinfeld episode. I need to have a show about nothing. I don’t want to say my friends are weird, but they are and this is how we became friends. So with men, I kinda need to have them approach me or this will never go anywhere, So hey cute guy that likes to flirt make a move or just stand there waiting!

I have tons of nice things to say to people. But never do it because yet again of social issues. So when I say I’m awkward, I’M AWKWARD! That even means at dating. Yeah big deal if I ask how your mom is doing only after 2 or 3 dates, and I don’t know her. Trust me I have my reasons. I always have reasons.

Anyway, enough about me. Look you’re almost finished! So close to indulge!

So basically the science to this sandwich is a nice hearty sandwich bread. I used wheat, maybe I didn’t want to feel so guilty eating this sandwich, it may not be super healthy but it’s not like you’re eating it everyday! anyhow, then you have two slices of cheese and the homemade mac and cheese in between the cheese slices and bread. oh and butter to make it extra good.

Grilled Cheese Mac and Cheese Sandwiches

Mac and Cheese

Adapted from How Sweet Eats

12 oz uncooked elbow or shell pasta
2 T unsalted butter
2 T flour
1 cup milk
1 cup beer
4 oz smoked cheddar cheese, grated
4 oz sharp white cheddar cheese, grated
4 oz mild cheddar cheese, grated
6 slices American cheese
1/4 tsp smoked paprika
1/4 tsp dried thyme
salt and pepper, to taste
10 bacon strips cooked and chopped

Heat a large pot of water to boiling, add a liberal amount of salt when boiling and add pasta.  Cook to just al dente, according to package directions.  Drain and let rest. Meanwhile, melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat.  Add flour and whisk to make a roux.  Continue whisking until the roux start to turn golden and bubbles, about two minutes.  Add milk and beer, stirring constantly.  Cook for about five minutes until the mixture begins to thicken slightly.  Reduce heat to low and add cheeses by the handful, stirring to melt and incorporate.  The sauce will thicken slightly but will not be as thick as regular mac and cheese at this point.  Add paprika, thyme, and salt and pepper to taste.  Pour sauce over pasta and stir to distribute.  Chop cooked bacon Stir bacon into pasta and pour onto a greased cookie pan. Let cool in the fridge till firm I did it over night but at least 2 to 3 hours.

NOTES FOR MAC AND CHEESE

You don’t want to use beer? Just substitute milk for the beer.

Using a Stout beer? I suggest using only half cup of beer and then using 1 1/2 cups of milk.

Grilled Sandwich

Once the macaroni and cheese is cold, slice it into squares that are roughly 1/2-inch smaller than the bread you plan on using for the grilled cheese. Preheat the oven to 500°F and place a cast-iron skillet (or other oven-proof pan) inside. To assemble the sandwich, butter one side of two slices of bread with butter. Place the bread, buttered side down on a work surface and top one piece with a slice of cheese, the macaroni and cheese square, and another slice of cheese. The cheese slices act as glue for the sandwich, ensuring that the macaroni and cheese doesn’t fall out. Cover the second piece of cheese with the remaining slice of bread, butter side out. Remove the skillet (or pan) from the oven and place the sandwich inside. Bake in the oven for 1-2 minutes, until the cheese is completely melted, the bread is toasted, and the macaroni and cheese is hot. Slice into triangles and enjoy immediately.

NOTES FOR THE SANDWICH

If actually bringing for tailgating this possible. Make make and cheese the night before like in the directions then in the morning wrap the pan and bring a skillet or frying pan with you and cook it in your grill!

You can use a frying pan at home.

You can also cook it like a normal grilled cheese on stove top and then place in the oven to make sure it warms through

Lastly you can use any cheese of the sandwich. I suggest cheddar or Munster I used munster