Basil-shrimp Mac & Cheese

Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• 1 lb medium shrimp (may be fresh or frozen. i buy already cleaned to save time)
• 8 ounces elbow macaroni (2 cups)
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 1 cup half-and-half
• 1 1/4 cups fontina cheese, shredded (5 oz.)
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated (the real stuff)
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted
• 1 1/2 cups basil leaves, lightly packed fresh chopped
• fresh basil leaf (optional garnish)

Recipe

• 1 thaw shrimp, if frozen. preheat oven to 350 degrees f.
• 2 peel and devein shrimp, removing tails, if not using pre-cleaned shrimp.
• 3 rinse shrimp; pat dry with paper towels.
• 4 chop shrimp and set aside.
• 5 cook macaroni according to package directions.
• 6 drain and keep warm.
• 7 in large bowl stir together eggs, butter, half-and-half, 1 cup of the fontina cheese, 1/4 cup of the parmesan cheese, garlic, pine nuts, chopped basil, and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper.
• 8 stir in shrimp and macaroni.
• 9 transfer to buttered 2-quart casserole. top with remaining cheeses.
• 10 bake, uncovered, 40 to 45 minutes or until heated through and shrimp pieces are opaque.
• 11 let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
• 12 top with fresh basil leaves as garnish.