Dec 2, 2013 3 min read

This recipe came from a former newspaper colleague, Joyce Howard, who got it from a Patti LaBelle cookbook. Patti LaBelle now sings the praises of moderation, since she was diagnosed with diabetes and lost weight. So, keeping that in mind, know that this recipe is richer than a Powerball winner. If you can eat it, have just a little. It’ll be your piece of heaven at the holidays.

Over the Rainbow Macaroni and Cheese

Makes: 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 pound elbow macaroni

8 tablespoons (1 stick) plus 1 tablespoon butter

1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded Muenster cheese

1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded mild cheddar cheese

1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack

2 cups half-and-half

1 cup (8 ounces) Velveeta, cut into small cubes

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt

1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly butter a deep 2?1/2-quart casserole.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the oil, then the elbow macaroni, and cook until the macaroni is just tender, about 7 minutes. Do not overcook. Drain well. Return to the cooking pot.

In a small saucepan, melt 8 tablespoons of the butter. Stir into the macaroni. In a large bowl, mix the Muenster, mild and sharp cheddar, and Monterey Jack cheeses. To the macaroni, add the half-and-half, 1?1/2 cups of the shredded cheese, the cubed Velveeta, and the eggs. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to the buttered casserole. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded cheese and dot with the remaining one tablespoon of butter.

Bake until it’s bubbling around the edges, about 35 minutes. Serve hot.

Note: It is sometimes difficult to buy some of the cheeses shredded. So we often buy blocks of the cheese, shred what’s needed, and freeze the rest for the next time we make this dish. Who knows? You might have another craving for it at Christmas.

Margi Shrum, wife of Rick Shrum, Business writer