Crab Mac & Cheese with Garlic Cheese Bread

One night I had a craving for some lobster mac & cheese.  I didn't have lobster, so I decided to whip up my own crab version!! Feel free to use lobster in your version, and if you don't have Old Bay you can use something similar.  If you want to go vegetarian friendly, use a seasoned tofu, extra firm, in place of crab meat.

Ingredients: 

• 1 box shell or penne pasta (I’ve used both and usually use whole wheat)
• 2 cans Aunt Penny’s White Sauce (or any plane cream sauce base)
• 4-6 tablespoons Old Bay Seasoning (I don’t measure, rather I eyeball the amount to taste)
• 2 cans of lump crab meat (brands vary…each can should be at least 4 oz. You can use more or less as preferred.  Just make sure it's real crab and not krab)
• 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
• At least, 8 oz. Shredded mozzarella
• At least, 8 oz. Shredded parmesan
• Bread Crumbs
• ½ cup Butter
• 1-2 tbsp. Garlic Powder
• A small amount of additional shredded parmesan (optional)

Directions:

1. Cook pasta per directions on box.
2. While pasta is cooking, combine 2 cans white sauce plus 1 can water, Old Bay and olive oil in sauce pan.  Cook on medium until all ingredients have combined and sauce is a good consistency.  You don’t want it to be too thick, or to thin.  If it’s too thin you can add a little flour.  If it’s too thick, add a little more water or olive oil.
3. Add crab meat to sauce and stir.  Cook for another 3-5 minutes
4. Once pasta and sauce have finished cooking, toss the past in about ¾ of the sauce, setting the remaining ¼ aside for use later.
5. Place approximately half the pasta in a glass 10 x 12 baking dish.  Sprinkle shredded cheeses generously.
6. Make a top layer with the remaining pasta, and sprinkle remaining shredded cheese generously all over the top.
7. Sprinkle a light to medium layer of bread crumbs on the top.
8. Bake at 375 degrees for approximately 35-35 minutes, or until the bread crumbs start to brown.

Garlic Bread

1.       Mix butter 1 clove fresh garlic and a little bit of garlic powder to enhance flavor

2.       Cut any deli bread (French baguette, Italian, etc) in to ½ inch slices

3.       Butter bread and top with grated parmesan, or leave with just butter

4.       Bake at 375 for about 10 minutes or until bread is nicely toasted