ZZ's Crab Mac 'n Cheese

I created this dish earlier last week, wanting both crab cakes and mac 'n cheese in one meal, as well as wanting to capitalize on a cooking mood. So I began grabbing ingredients and tasting things as I went along. Messy hands and hungry tummy meant I didn't write anything down, so this is from memory. Nothing measured except the crab and eggs! Truly an indulgent meal, but I get the crab meat at Chesapeake Quality Trader's for $12/lb. and can make enough to feed 5 adults and one kid just fine.

Great after football whether player or spectator!

Serves: 6
Prep time: 30 mins plus time to let it cool/flavors "set"
Bake time: 30 mins.
Total Cost: about $14

Next time I make it, I will:
-add something crunchy
-make the crab mixture earlier in the day to let the flavors congeal before cooking

I sprayed a 2-qt casserole dish for baking.

CRAB MIXTURE

1 lb jumbo lump crab meat
2 eggs
1.5 cups chopped stale bread (I used it from freezer stash)
Worcestershire ( about 1 T)
Old Bay (about 1 T)
pepper (a few shakes) NO SALT, the Old Bay and Worc. are plenty salty!
1/2 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 chopped onion for the pan
olive oil
NO MAYO

3/4 lb of medium pasta shells

Skillet--Start sauteeing onions in oil.

Med pot- boil the shells till almost tender. They'll cook more in the oven.

Then, in large bowl, mix eggs, W. sauce, Old Bay, and pepper. Form crab cakes . When onions are lightly brown , saute crab till brown on both sides but not cooked.

Plate-When they're brown, pull them out and dab off the oil but keep the onions clinging to the meat. Set the cakes on a plate. *You'll be layering pasta, meat, and cheese mixture.)

Cheese Mixture:

about 1 cup milk-- heat it on med, turn down to low, and melt the following into it:

2 handfuls shredded cheddar
2 handfuls shredded mozzarella

Remove from heat and add about 1/4 cup sour cream. Stir all.


Then layer in a sprayed dish:

pasta, cheese sauce, crab meat, pasta, cheese sauce, crab meat. Top with ground bread crumbs. (Next time, crushed Ritz?)

Cover with foil. It'll be too hot to put in fridge, but you want to let the flavors "gel" so let it sit on
counter until you're 40 minutes from serving it.

Bake at 325 for 30 mins. Let cool for 10 and then chow down!!! Great w/ baby greens and pineapple chunks on the side.