Do you shop at big box stores? Have you ever been pleasantly surprised by something you’ve found there? I mean, something truly unexpected and high-quality… 

Mama usually goes to those stores to buy things the fam uses a lot: laundry detergent, paper plates, toilet paper.

But the other day when I was wandering the aisles marveling at things like the jar of 200 Kosher Dills, I came across a frozen half-pound lobster tail. It was Wild Caught, from the Bahamas (so I know how and where it was fished), and beautiful.

I’ve been wanting to make Lobster Mac and Cheese for a while now because every time I’ve ordered it in a restaurant (well, almost every time), I’ve thought to myself, “I know I can do better.”

And I have. Let me know what you think.

Lobster Mac and Cheese

Lobster Mac and Cheese
prep: 20 minutes
cook: 20 minutes
serves: 6 (one-cup serving)

you’ll need…
4 Tablespoons butter, divided
¾ cup breadcrumbs
8 oz. cooked lobster meat, cut into 1-inch pieces
½ lb. cooked rigatoni, penne or cellentani pasta (slightly undercooked)
2 Tablespoons finely chopped celery
2 Tablespoons garlic, finely minced or pressed
1 Tablespoon finely minced shallots
¼ cup flour
1 cup milk
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 cup Gruyère cheese
1 cup cheddar cheese
1 teaspoon Old Bay Seasoning
¼ teaspoon salt

let’s get to it…
Melt 2 Tablespoons of butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat and stir breadcrumbs into melted butter; set aside.
Melt  remaining 2 Tablespoons of butter over medium low heat in a medium sized heavy bottom pan (large enough to hold pasta later). Add celery, garlic and shallots; sauté for 2 to 3 minutes or until soft.
Stir in flour and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until the flour loses its uncooked taste. Increase temperature to medium and, using a whisk, slowly stir in milk and cream and cook until thickened.
Remove sauce from heat and add cheese, ½ cup at a time; whisking constantly. Add the Old Bay Seasoning and salt and whisk until smooth.
Add the pasta to the cheese sauce, stirring gently with a large spoon or rubber spatula to coat the pasta. Stir in the lobster.
Place 6 bowls on a baking sheet and spoon Lobster Mac and Cheese evenly into bowls. Top with prepared breadcrumbs.
Place bowls on baking sheet under broiler for 1 to 2 minutes or until breadcrumbs have browned. Serve immediately.