MAC 'N' CHEESE BALLS _ Sorted Food

**The Origins of Mac and Cheese**

It all began in 1802 when Thomas Jefferson, who would later become the President of the United States, was on the lookout for a new meal to add to his repertoire. He discovered a fantastic macaroni recipe and brought it back to America, importing some high-quality parmesan cheese along with it. This marked the beginning of an iconic American dish that has since become a staple in many households.

**The Perfect Mac and Cheese**

To make the perfect mac and cheese, one needs to pay attention to the details. First, you need to cook your pasta al dente, which means it should still have a bit of bite to it. Then, you dump all the grated cheese into the sauce and stir it until everything is well combined. The next step is to cool down the mixture slightly and add some salt and pepper to taste. This may seem like a straightforward process, but trust us, it's essential to get it right.

**The Short Rib Secret**

So, what sets our mac and cheese apart from others? It all comes down to the short rib. All we did was season the short ribs with some bacon fat and then braise them in water for about two and a half hours until they just fall apart. This tender and flavorful meat is the crowning glory of our dish, and you can use it as a substitute for other types of meat if you like.

**Forming the Mac and Cheese Balls**

Once we have our short ribs, it's time to form the mac and cheese balls. We take our cold mac and cheese and pack it down into a disc about 10 centimeters across. Then, we place some short rib in the middle of each disc and use cling film to seal them up. This process is similar to making sausage meatballs, but instead, you're using pasta and cheese.

**Dredging the Mac and Cheese Balls**

To give our mac and cheese balls a crunchy exterior, we need to dredge them in flour, egg, and breadcrumbs. We pass the flour through the panang, which is essentially a French flour mixture, and then dip it into some beaten eggs before coating it in breadcrumbs. To get that perfect double coating, we go back into the egg wash and coat the mac and cheese balls again.

**Frying the Mac and Cheese Balls**

Now that our mac and cheese balls are ready, it's time to fry them. We transfer them to a hot oil-filled fryer basket and cook them for about six or seven minutes until they're golden brown all over. This is where the magic happens, and you get that perfect crunchy exterior giving way to a creamy, cheesy interior.

**The Final Product**

And there you have it – our mac and cheese balls with short ribs! They may look like little soccer balls at first glance, but trust us, they're worth trying. The combination of tender short rib, crispy breadcrumb coating, and creamy mac and cheese is truly unbeatable. So go ahead, give them a try, and let us know what you think in the comments below.

**Variations and Ideas**

We want to hear from you! What variations or ideas do you have for our mac and cheese balls? Perhaps you'd like to use different types of pasta, sauces, or fillings. Whatever it is, we're all ears. Let's work together to create the ultimate mac and cheese experience.