Bahamian Style Mac and Cheese

When I was working as a chef on yachts, I would occasionally get pangs for the comfort foods I ate as a child. This Bahamian Style Mac and Cheese always did the trick.

I know, I know. As a chef, I had the best foods and ingredients available. But after cooking three meals a day (and dinner was always three courses, so we’ll call it five meals a day), all I wanted at the end of a charter was simple comfort foods I could shovel down my throat. And I’ll tell you, I never got any complaints from the crew about it either.

Bahamian Style Mac and Cheese Ingredients:

¼ cup butter
½ lb. macaroni, cooked
3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
2 Tbsp. each chopped onion and bell pepper
1 tsp. each salt, pepper and paprika
½ tsp. cayenne pepper (optional)
2 eggs
1 cup milk (or evaporated milk)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350ºF and grease 8×8-inch baking dish. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat, add cooked pasta and stir in 2 cups shredded cheese, onion, bell pepper,
salt, pepper, and paprika. Stir until cheese is melted.

Remove from heat and let cool for 5 minutes. Mix eggs and milk and fold gently into pasta. Pour pasta/egg mixture into a greased baking dish and spread evenly. Top with remaining cheese and cover loosely with foil. Bake until the top is golden, about 1 hour.

-Erin B