sinful seafood mac 'n cheese

we recently celebrated my parents 50th wedding anniversary in hawaii.. {if you didn't see that post you can catch up on all the activities here..} we had such a good time.. on the last night and the night of my parents anniversary we went to dinner at don the beachcomber and pete ordered the don big macbeach.. which was basically seafood mac 'n cheese with truffle essence.. {i was going to get truffle oil but well pete was with me and he said are you kidding me we are not paying that much for oil for mac 'n cheese.. however had i been alone i would have gotten he he maybe next time..}  so anyway he ordered it and we all tried it and well kept trying it.. kept picking at it.. kept sneaking one more bite.. i knew i had to make it when i got home and seeing huge luscious scallops at whole foods on saturday confirmed it was going to be sunday that i was going to make.. it's so decadant.. so sinful.. so good.. i suggest if you have a special occasion, like it's a sunday and you're craving sea food mac 'n cheese type occasion, make it.. you won't be disappointed..

seafood mac 'n cheese

prep time: 30 minutes
cooking time: 1.5 hours
servings: 8-10

ingredients:

1.5 lbs lobster meat, cooked and cut into chunks {i steamed my tails allowed to cool and removed the meat}
1/2 lb cooked scallops, chopped {i sauteed in butter with the shrimp until opaque and shrimp turned pink, removed and chopped up}
1/2 of cooked shrimp, chopped
1 lb. pasta {i used the little mini shells}
sea salt and white pepper
4 cups milk
8 tblsp. butter {divided}
1/2 cup of ap flour
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
8 ounces extra sharp cheddar, shredded
12 oz. gruyere cheese, shredded
6 oz. of colby jack, shredded {pete by accident bought pepper jack so i used that}
1 cup panko bread crumbs

preheat your oven to 375 degrees {f}.. set aside a casserole dish sprayed with pam, i used a 9x13.. in a large pot cook pasta according to package directions except cook the pasta about 2-3 minutes less than what the directions call for..drain and return pasta to hot pot.. in the interim, melt 6 tblsps. of butter in a medium heavy bottom pan.. {your going to use the other 2 tblsps. butter for your breadcrumbs}add flour to melted butter and whisk together and cook for about 1 minute, whisking the entire time.. whisk in milk {your making a basic roux} continue to whisk it will get thicker and smooth..when it does reduce heat and continue whisking for about 5 minutes.. remove from heat and add your cheeses and stir until thick and smooth.. add salt, white pepper and nutmeg.. add seafood and combine then add everything to the pot with the pasta.. stir to completely combine.. melt the remaining 2  tblsp. butter {i used a microwave safe bowl and zapped if for 30 seconds} add panko and stir to combine.. transfer cheesy seafood pasta mixture to your casserole dish and cover with buttered panko.. bake for 35-45 minutes until cheese is bubbly and top is golden brown.. remove from oven and allow to cool about 5-7 minutes then serve hot.. it's so good.. you can change up the seafood and the cheeses.. the type of pasta you use.. or add some herbs.. there are no set rules.. get creative in the kitchen and have fun..

enjoy and get cook'n!!