SANDRA'S SEARED BRATS in BAKED BEANS with MAC N’ CHEESE and FRESH CORN

Some nights you just
need all these comfort foods
at the same time...

Servings: (4)
Prep: 12 minutes |
Bake 20 minutes

Posted by Sandra

INGREDIENTS

***Traditional Mac N’ Cheese
2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni (I prefer the ones with ridges)
¼ cup unsalted butter
¼ cup all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
¼ teaspoon ground mustard
¼ teaspoon worcestershire
2 cups milk
2 cups (8 oz) sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

***Seared Brats in Baked Beans
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 smoked brats, cut in half lengthwise, and then cut in half crosswise, and scored around edges (to prevent excessive curling)
1 (14 oz. can) Baked Beans (I prefer the Bush’s Original)
2 tablespoons red onion, finely chopped
2 tablespoons red bell pepper, finely chopped
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

****Fresh Corn - (cut off cob)
2 ears of fresh yellow corn on the cob
1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
1 teaspoon butter
kosher salt

METHOD

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cook pasta as directed on package, (but a few minutes less so it is al dente, as it will continue to cook in oven).

While macaroni is cooking, make the cheese sauce by melting butter in 3-quart saucepan over low heat. Whisk in flour and continue cooking for 1 minute, add milk, salt, pepper, mustard and worcestershire sauce, and continue to whisk just until bubbles form, about 2 more minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in cheese with a spoon until melted. Drain macaroni and return to dry pot. Gently add cheese sauce over macaroni to incorporate. Pour macaroni/cheese mixture into an ungreased 9x9"x2” casserole dish. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, start the corn on the cob boiling by covering with lightly salted water, adding sugar and butter, and then cooking, covered, for a total of 12 to 15 minutes.

Also, begin searing brats in a medium skillet over medium-high heat, until golden brown on both sides, and then remove to a plate, and set aside. Reduce the heat in the skillet to medium, and saute the onions, bell peppers, and garlic powder, just until the onions are translucent. Add the baked beans, and browned brats back to the skillet, and reduce heat to a low to simmer, just until the Mac N’ Cheese and corn are done.

Cut the corn kernels off of the cobs, and then serve up your dinner as shown in photograph. – Enjoy!