The temps are steadily dropping and that can only mean one thing โ comfort food time! Try this fan-favorite from top caterer Abigail Kirsch (of event venue Abigail Kirsch at The Loading Dock in Stamford) for their Mini Mac & Cheese Cupcakes.
MINI MAC & CHEESE CUPCAKES
(Yield: 30 cupcakes)
8 oz ditalini pasta
4 Tbsp butter (ยฝย stick)
1 small onion, diced small
ยผ cup flour
2 cups whole milk
Salt & pepper to taste
8 oz cheddar cheese, grated
ยฝ cup panko crumbs (or regular dry bread crumbs)
1 tsp chili powder
Tomato Chutney (recipe follows or use good quality jarred chutney or salsa)
2 scallion, thinly sliced
- Cook ditalini according to package instructions. The pasta must be fully cooked, not al dente. Drain and rinse with cold water.
- Sautรฉ onion over medium heat in butter until soft. Sprinkle flour over the butter and onions and cook, stirring, until mixtures bubbles.
- Add milk while stirring and cook stirring all the while until the sauce comes to a simmer and thickens.
- Remove the sauce from the stove and stir in 6 oz of the grated cheddar. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Mix pasta with the sauce.
- Mix panko crumbs with chili powder.
- Spray mini muffin tins with Pam and sprinkle the seasoned crumbs in the muffins wells.
- Spoon the ditalini mix into the muffin tins and top with remaining grated cheese.
- Bake at 350ยฐF for 5 minutes or until set. Muffins may be refrigerated at this point and reheated for 2 to 3 minutes until warm.
- Spoon a small amount of chutney on top of each mini muffin and garnish with scallion.
TOMATO CHUTNEY
3 plum tomatoes, peeled, seeded and diced small
ยฝ red pepper, diced small
ยฝ red onion, diced small
ยพ cup cider vinegar
ยผ cup white sugar
ยฝ tspย cinnamon
ยผ cup golden raisins
Mix together all ingredients and cook over medium heat until thickened. Cool before serving.
Brought to you byย Abigail Kirsch