Hellomy Foodie Friends!   

Autumn spice and foods are among the beauty of this time of year. Along with the scents and visually stunning colors, is the time of year for hearty stews, salads, and spectacular comfort foods. With the chilly autumn nights, we yearn for the warm cozy foods. Autumn is such a beautiful time of year for foodies. It’s time to take trips to the orchards, time to get back to roasting and baking, and maybe even experimenting with delicious hot beverages. 

Baked macaroni and cheese has always been one of my favorite autumn comfort foods. During my childhood, pasta was always a staple to almost every meal. However, it was always a treat when my mother would make us home made mac n cheese. It comprised of the two things I loved; pasta and cheese. It was ooey and gooey and did not take much cajoling to get me to eat. I can recall the crackle sound of the cheese as it melted and browned in the oven. 

There was so much excitement in the kitchen as three little boys and two little girls were for a brief period mesmerized by the sounds and the smell of a kid’s favorite meal.

We knew that if we were quiet and let my mother cook, we would all get to taste her work. My mother had a master plan to get her few minutes of serenity and it worked every time. It was her super power. 

Mac n cheese also offers the ability to do just about anything you want to it. You can add BBQ pulled pork to the top or add delicious vegetables to it. There are many baking dishes to bake mac n’cheese in: stoneware/ceramics, cast iron, glassware and metal. 

Cast Iron Bakeware

Cast iron is affordable, and it only gets better with age! The most popular type of cast iron bakeware is the cast iron skillet, but you can get just about any shape of bakeware in cast iron. As long as you care for your cast iron and season it properly, you won’t have to worry about the metal reacting with the food. Cast iron skillets are the holy grail of bakeware. They are truly are the ultimate kitchen utensil. They have the versatility of metal, the reliability of glass, and produce the quality of flavor from ceramic stoneware.

Just make sure you season your cast iron skillets are seasoned properly. Doing this will prevent the metal from reacting with your food; plus, it makes it much easier to clean.

Glass Baking Dishes

Glass bakeware is probably going to be your go-to for most recipes. And that’s for a good reason: it’s good at conducting heat. 

Ceramic Stoneware Baking Dishes

Ceramic stoneware is really the best option for baking things evenly. It behaves similarly to glass, so it’s probably best to stick to more savory dishes, although desserts muffins and quickbreads do well in stoneware.

Metal Baking Dishes

Metal baking dishes are probably the most common type of bakeware. They are versatile, easy to clean, and they’re great for baking things like quick breads, muffins, and other sweet treats.

This autumn season, Stop by Compliments to the Chef, your Neighborhood Kitchen and Cutlery store located at 33 Railroad Place for an assortment of cool tools to assist with your autumnal creations. Remember my Foodie Friends; “Life Happens in the Kitchen.” 

Take Care, John & Paula