Monday, November 15, 2010

A very merry unbirthday…



I recently celebrated my half birthday. Yes, I realize that makes me sound like a 6 year-old, but I love birthdays and I love any reason to celebrate. For this reason, I also celebrate a birthday week and try my hardest to convince Andy that our 1 year, 274th day wedding anniversary really should be commemorated. Andy had never heard of this half-birthday business until he met me, and I don’t know if he would admit it, but I think he kind of likes it. This year, he outdid himself with my half-birthday celebration…

Living only 20 minutes from San Francisco, you would think that we would visit often, exploring new shops and restaurants, and eating our way through the city. But to us, it is a whole lot of work. You have to deal with traffic, and parking, and crowds, and then more traffic. So we hardly ever go. But this day, Andy had planned a half-birthday excursion. First we would go to the Ferry Building Marketplace where I’ve been wanting to go for ages, then to lunch at Pier 23 where I heard they have an amazing roasted crab, and to cap off the day, a trip to CB2 to shop for more tiny dishes that I don’t need but love with all my heart. Talk about a dream day!

Let me just say right off the bat that I am now so enamored with the Ferry Building that I could move in. If they allowed lodgers I would sign up, particularly at Boccalone Salumeria, whose sign proudly proclaims that they sell “tasty salted pig parts.” I wanted to buy two of everything in that shop. 


We also went to Cowgirl Creamery, 


Acme Bread Company, a wine bar, a mushroom shop, a seafood shop, an olive oil shop, and much more.


Anything you could think of, they had it. We could have skipped lunch and eaten our way through the marketplace. But no, I heard a crab calling my name…


Pier 23 (which is down the Embarcadero a ways) is a fun place; very funky and casual with outside seating and great food. I don’t know if I’ve ever eaten something with as much vigor as I ate my oven-roasted whole crab served with the most amazing butter-garlic dipping sauce. There was literally crab flying. Andy picked some out of my hair later that day. I was in the zone, and didn’t say a word until lunch was finished. Needless to say, it was ridiculously good.

After a quick shopping spree at CB2, we headed home very happy. And later, we got to enjoy this:


Cheese from Cowgirl Creamery, spreadable spicy salami from Boccolone, and a fresh baguette from Acme. Best half-birthday. Ever.

Since we had a good amount of cheese left over, there was no way that I was going to have that much Cowgirl Creamery sitting in the fridge without making macaroni and cheese. It was just an opportunity I could not let pass by. I’ve wanted to make my own mac ‘n cheese for awhile now, and I finally had the cheese I wanted to use.



Half-Birthday Cowgirl Creamery Mac ‘n Cheese

8 ounces elbow macaroni, cooked in salted water and drained

3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
1 1/2 cups whole milk, heated in a saucepan
1/2 teaspoon pepper

4 ounces crumbled Mt Tam cheese (Cowgirl Creamery)
3 ounces crumbled Red Hawk cheese (Cowgirl Creamery)
1 1/2 ounces grated gruyere cheese
1 1/2 ounces grated white cheddar cheese

Topping:
1/2 cup fresh bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

For the topping, mix bread crumbs and parmesan cheese together. Reserve.

Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. When melted, stir in flour and whisk for several minutes until flour is browning and cooked. Whisk in hot milk, and continue stirring over heat until mixture thickens. This will take a few minutes. Once thickened, remove from heat and stir in cheeses and pepper. Stir until smooth.

Combine cheese mixture and cooked macaroni. Spread into a baking dish. Sprinkle reserved topping over the entire dish.

Bake at 375 degrees for about 30 minutes, until topping is golden brown.

(Disclaimer: If you don’t like strong cheese, this may not be the mac ‘n cheese for you. The Mt Tam and Red Hawk definitely have a distinct flavor, which is why I love them so much, but a non-cheese lover may not feel the same way.)


To me, this is the ultimate mac ‘n cheese. It’s creamy and tangy and rich and decadent. I ate WAY too much of it and only slightly regretted it. The top and sides get crunchy, which is the best part to some of us (okay…both of us). For my first homemade mac ‘n cheese, I really couldn’t have asked for better. When you start with such yummy ingredients, it’s hard to go wrong.

Now I can’t wait for my real birthday…Italy, here we come!

60 comments:

  1. If he did all this for your half birthday I can imagine what he will do for your actual birthday. I can understand from the pictures and story that you guys had an excellent time there. And what better way to cherish these moments than this mac and cheese. It sure looks very creamy and tasty.

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  2. Wow, I think I should let my hubby read your post!
    Creamery mac n cheese looks delicious! I can't wait to see what goodies awaiting on your actual birthday!

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  3. Happy 1/2 Birthday Karen!
    Love the pics.
    That mac has birthday decadence written all over it!

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  4. First of all: Happy !/2 Birthday!
    I really love Cheese and pics are so beautiful!

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  5. Yum yum yum, cheese and red wine, I totally have to do this on the weekend. Have not done that in ages.

    And I am always on the lookout for a good mac and cheese, thanks for this lovely recipe.

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  6. I love mac and cheese, especially when people incorporate cheeses that aren't the norm in them. Your recipe sounds delicious! (and happy UNbirthday!)

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  7. What a wonderful half birthday treat! I would be right there with you! I love strong flavored cheese and would be all over this mac and cheese. I am the same way about not making my own yet!

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  8. Now that looks like a fantastic half-birthday celebration. All that gorgeous cheese and meat, I would be in heaven! Great grown-up mac n cheese, I love intense cheese flavours.

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  9. What a Happy post; everything you wrote about made me want to go see that market.I've always wanted to visit SanFrancisco, but never happened; we are pretty far away. Thank you so much for sharing.

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  10. Food-centric excursions are the BEST!!! I'm in love with the half birthday concept, too! The mac n cheese looks amazing-- making your own is so much fun :)

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  11. Happy Half-Birthday!

    Together, your mac-n-cheese and my pie could be deadly!:) Brings back good memories of my mother making stuff :)

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  12. Too funny! I think I'll start celebrating half birthdays and make this Mac and Cheese! Yum

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  13. I love it! You are so funny. I've tried to convince Mr. Sideline Chef that everyday is a reason to celebrate being together but he isn't buying it. Haha! Looks like such a fun excursion and great buys. The mac n cheese looks incredible too!

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  14. I am totally doing that next year! (the 1/2 bday thing) This looks like a dream day and that mac n cheese will be in MY dreams tonight! Beautiful!

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  15. I do a half-birthday for my husband since his birthday falls mid December...that way, he doesn't have to share the spotlight with Santa ;)! LOVE Ferry Bldg...especially Cowgirl Creamery. Hoping to go back in spring since I want to visit my uncle, who lives on the East Bay!!

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  16. How lucky your man will celebrate your half birthday! I am jealous! I love that mac-n-cheese. Anything with gruyere in it is delicious.

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  17. My mouth is watering looking at this macaroni and cheese recipe... looks irresistible!!

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  18. Love the Ferry Building! Such great stuff there. Perfect for half birthday treats!

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  19. Well, happy half-birthday! All those dishes and foods look delicious, but especially the mac and cheese! I am quite jealous of your close proximity to San Francisco ...

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  20. Happy Half Bday! The mac and cheese looks awesome!

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  21. My mouth is watering. That mac and cheese looks amazing. I have never heard of anyone celebrating their half birthday but I like the tradition. I am so jealous you live so close to San Francisco...I can't wait until I can move west! Chris Cosentino seems like such a great chef, I have been dying to go to Boccalone and Incanto. Oh, and happy 1/2 birthday!

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  22. mmmm, this looks so cheesy and delicous! happy half birthday!!

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  23. Cute and great idea, celebrating half birthday, mac'n'cheese looks good:)

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  24. I was just there!! And I wish I had some of this mac 'n' cheese!

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  25. Did you happen to see my heart while you were in S.F.? I left a huge part of it there! I don't celebrate unbirthdays (but might start). I do celebrate my birthday from the actual date and 30 days forward. I think you husband did a great half-un-birthday for you.

    Thanks for sharing the delicious looking recipe.

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  26. Mac'n'cheese looks great. What a fantastic way to celebrate!!. After reading the post, now i want to vist that market :). I wish it is in East coast:). Happy 1/2 Birthday :)

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  27. Your excursion looks like you had a blast. The Mac 'n Cheese looks amazing! I recently made Mac 'n Cheese for the first time and I'd love to try your recipe. Thanks for sharing and happy half-birthday :) I'm going to talk my husband into those celebrations.

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  28. I haven't had mac n cheese since my kids were little and that was out of a box! I can't wait to try this.

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  29. LOL you're so cute! Happy half birthday to you!! :)

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  30. Happy half birthday! I like this idea and I may have to use it myself (= I wish I could have visited the farmers market at the Ferry Building while I was there. I only hear amazing things. Andy is a good man and it sure looks like he have you a nice half birthday party celebration. And I really must try some cowgirl products!

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  31. Happy half-birthday. I may have been able to celebrate them 25 years ago, but now I think less is better. :) I wish my family liked their mac and cheese any way other than out of the blue box because I think this looks fabulous. I just can't pry them away from the fake stuff without more kicking and screaming than it's worth. ::sigh::

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  32. I love cowgirl creamery cheeses! I bet this was delicious and decadent!

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  33. Loved your story, the great photos... but mostly your mac and cheese. It is so creamy and yummy, although I never heard of the Cowgirl cheese, as they don't carry it in these parts of S. Florida, that I know of.
    Half birthday...so cute, another new one on me.
    Happy 1/2 birthday!

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  34. Wow, I've never heard of half-birthdays, but sounds like a great idea. It'll be some work to convince the people around me to get on board, but maybe if I provide some homemade goodies and throw a small dinner they'd be more inclined to seeing it our way ;)

    Love the Ferry Building. I used to go there for lunch practically everyday. If you go on Thursdays and Saturdays you can catch the farmer's market. In the summertime there are even more amazing food stalls outside the market that serve artisan pizzas and other interesting and inspired prepared options for the lunch crowd.

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  35. Happy Half- birthday! Any reason to celebrate and take a trip to San Francisco is a wonderful thing. And then to top it off with the decadent Mac n' Cheese, Oh my!

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  36. Happy half-birthday! Any reason for a celebration like you had, what a fantastic place! Great day! I'm jealous!

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  37. I definitely need to start celebrating my half birthday. Because you know, calories don't count on birthdays OR half birthdays which means you can eat as much of this luscious mac and cheese as you want - no guilt!

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  38. What an awesome half birthday and a very sweet husband! Looking at your mac and cheese makes me so hungry!

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  39. Happy half b-day!! I need to start doing this! haha The mac and cheese looks amazing!!

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  40. Happy half birthday! I love half birthday's(: They're so fun! The mac and cheese looks delicious. I love all the different cheese's in it. I'll have to make it soon, I'm getting sick of the boxed kind!

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  41. Happy half birthday! :) Where outside of San Francisco are you? I have family that lives in Novato. It's a GREAT area! I love San Francisco! And, on an unrelated note, the mac and cheese looks wonderful! ;)

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  42. Who doesn't love a good mac and cheese - this one looks quite exceptional :-)
    Sue

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  43. I have no idea where to get the cheeses that you mentioned--
    4 ounces crumbled Mt Tam cheese (Cowgirl Creamery)
    3 ounces crumbled Red Hawk cheese (Cowgirl Creamery)
    What could I use as a substitution?

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  44. I LOVE the Ferry Building! I haven't been there in a million years--I think it misses me. I could eat tasty pig parts and creamy cheese every meal of the day. Happy UnBirthday!

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  45. Happy Half-birthday! All the fun and none of the worry about turning another year older. :) That mac and cheese looks good!

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  46. I work for cowgirl, my suggestion is to add some Toma in to the mix, you won't regret it! Delicious!!

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  47. What a wonderful way to celebrate your half birthday! We used to celebrate our kids' half birthdays, but I never thought of doing it for myself. What fun!

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  48. How delicious! I'm with you- the more reasons to celebrate with good food, the better!

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  49. This sounds rich and delicious! Happy half-birthday!

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  50. You are never too old to celebrate a half birthday. Happy half birthday!

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  51. Holy WOW...the Mac & Cheese looks amazing, I adore ANY reason to celebrate things (esp. with food) AND your shopping trip just may have me putting the seal on my proposed trip to San Fran in the winter:) FABULOUS Karen! :)

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  52. Congratulations on the Top 9 today!

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  53. Top 9 AGAIN . . . way to go Karen!

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  54. Happy half birthday! It looks so delicious!

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  55. I love Mac ‘n Cheese!! Where are you go in Italy??

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  56. Happy 1/2 Birthday! What a fun time, and a delicious Mac n Cheese :)

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  57. We celebrate 1/2 birthdays too. What an awesome looking mac n cheese! Hard to make anything less than outstanding given the ingredients you got to use! Yummm!!!

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  58. OMG... I love Boccalone. I used to work on Davis at Market and I rode the Ferry every day to work from Tiburon. I moved back to Los Angeles I never realized how much I enjoyed working in the city and how much I missed the food of the bay area.

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  59. Oh WOW!!! Mac & Cheese is my absolute favorite food.... Can't wait to try this one! Thanks for sharing!!

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