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Yup, this is SOOOO happening right now. An Irishman’s Mac and Cheese is happening right now!
I normally wouldn’t start chatting your ear off about St. Patrick’s Day inspired recipes this early, but with Easter being in March this year, St. Patrick’s Day recipes need to come out a bit sooner.
Totally fine by me, because umm, when is mac and cheese not a good idea? FYI – it’s always a good idea, but especially on a Monday. 🙂
So even though I don’t mind chatting about this Irishman’s Mac and Cheese, I am kind of bummed that Easter is in March this year. Anyone with me?? It’s totally throwing me off. I mean for one, March is just not “springy” enough for Easter. Come Easter there should be things popping out of the ground and warmer temps. I mean let’s be real, that just doesn’t typically happen by the end of March. Second, I simply like having Easter in April, it adds something special, gives it color and just makes it more, well… fun! UGH. For real though, does this bother anyone else or is it just crazy and insane me?
SIDE NOTE: I just pulled meringue out of my hair and off of my red sweatshirt (that I have been wearing since Saturday). The sweatshirt is covered in so many different foods I can’t even distinguish what they all are any more. To say that I need a shower would be and understatement. My kitchen could probably use a good scrub too, but well, that’s most likely not going to happen…
Alright, but let’s be serious. Are you guys ready for this mac and cheese??? Because it is legit.
Meaning it’s loaded with all things a really good mac and cheese should be loaded with, and then some.
To be completely honest, I don’t know a whole lot about Irish cooking. I know they eat a lot of potatoes, corn beef, cabbage, fish and chips (which are potatoes), but other than that I’m really not all that knowledgable on Irish cooking.
Ohhhh, but I do know they like their stout beers and especially their whiskey.
Basically what I did is took the Irish foods I know (and love) and put them into a mac and cheese…the bestest mac and cheese. I used mass amounts of sharp Irish cheddar, a little bacon, some kale pesto and um well as you can see, a little potato chip crumble situation baked on top. You may be thinking twice about that kale, and maybe even questioning potato chips on top of mac and cheese, but just stop all those thoughts right now. If you don’t like kale, that’s fine, leave it out, but don’t even think twice about omitting those potato chips.
I mean, you love a good baked mac and cheese with a buttery bread crumb on top right?!? Well, this is that mac and cheese only elevated. Traditionally I’m really not all that into potato chips, but there are certain foods that I just love paring them with. They add a delicious salty crunch and when I thought of that salty crunch atop a buttery, cheesy mac and cheese, I couldn’t resist.
It had to happen.
So I created the ultimate “Irishman’s Mac and Cheese”. Think a little stout, a lot of cheese, crispy bacon, kale for greens and flavor (and because I heard somewhere that Irish like dark greens…is this true??), topped with crushed all natural potato chips and baked to cheesy pasta perfection.
Really though, could there be anything better? And on a Monday to boot??
The only thing missing is a little whiskey…but I’m sure that could be arranged.
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Mac and Cheese + cocktails = Monday done right! 🙂 Oh, and don’t forget to keep on voting!
I’d suggest looking up Ballymaloe Cookery School – Darina Allen is a LEGEND – or grabbing a copy of The Country Cooking of Ireland by Andrew Colman. Irish cooking is wonderful and isn’t just about the stereotypical stuff! And it’s corned beef, btw : ) . Corning is a process whereby you preserve meat in salt water/brine.
I’d also check out Farmette (she has a new cookbook coming out, looks amazing!) and Cliodhna Prendergast on their blogs or Instagram.
Kale is actually a very traditional Irish food. Colcannon – often mistakenly made with cabbage for Saint Patrick’s Day – is actually supposed to be made with kale.
Love the kale-pesto slaw + the beer!! xo
I JUST made an Irish mac and cheese yesterday! Wish I had seen this to think of adding the chips on top. Genius!
Good-looking recipe, even if the potato chips immediately set my mind to thinking panko instead. Then, I wondered, would the Irish use olive oil, or vegetable oil, and would they go for the basil-based pesto? Hmmm, to be determined, but I will definitely try this as directed first.
But I digress: I had an interesting revelation recently involving a family-sized Stouffer’s frozen mac and cheese I copped out of a markdown bin for about $4. Once I got it home and defrosted it, which is not “manufacturer recommended,” I added the juice of some hot pickled carrots and jalapenos, which I usually keep around for all kinds ‘o thins, and a dash of cayenne, in homage to the Father of Macaroni & Cheese, Thomas Jefferson. I gave it a good stir and baked it for about half an hour longer than recommended, moving it down a rack for the last half hour so the top browned but didn’t burn. The extras I added improved the dish greatly, and it served both as a nice entree and as a side for some pork chops later in the week.
Thanks again for a good recipe and a good read!
Are you fucking kidding me? Maybe don’t associate your shitty potato chip mac and cheese recipe with a country you admit you don’t know anything about. Also maybe try not to be so fucking ignorant.
I looove mac and cheese, the more cheese the better! And this sounds like a really interesting take on it, the kale pesto slaw is a nice touch and I bet the potato chip topping tastes amazing!
Potato chips + kale in mac and cheese? So creative!! 😀
Total YUM! I am such a kid and just love mac n cheese.
You just made my Monday brighter. This is fantastic!
Hmm that kale slaw sounds delicious with all the cheesiness! LOVE this idea!
Wow Tieghan, this mac n’ cheese is lookin’ perfect! LOVE that kale pesto slaw!
Its amazing! I love the crunch along with the creamy cheesy goodness! Total drool moment here as always 🙂
Another totally delicious warming dinner – looks wonderful!
I’m not a fan of mac and cheese, but this one looks soooooo on spot I might just have to give it a go ahahahahh
http://bloglairdutemps.blogspot.pt/
this looks super creamy and cheesy (if there wasn’t enough cheese, this recipe would seem like an imposter on this blog!). i’ve been ambivalent about breadcrumbs on top of mac and cheese (they just seem like an extra step with minimal benefits), but i’m feeling very pro-potato chip crumbs (: