"Fried" Mac & Cheese Bites

Yes, these are baked, not fried!  And you won't miss the grease, I promise :)  They are a perfect fun snack for the kids or a perfect appetizer for a Sunday football game.  Best part is they can be made in advance and frozen to bake later....or make an extra batch for those unexpected cravings!

credit:http://www.flickr.com/photos/beggyberry/6076673589/

For the Mac & Cheese (use your favorite box recipe or homemade version, this one is my favorite):

• 3 tbl butter
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1 cup milk
• 4 oz Velveeta, cubed
• 2 cups elbow macaroni, cooked per package instructions
• 1/4 cup cheddar

Melt butter in a large sauce pan and sprinkle in flour.  Whisk until flour is combined and thick.  Slowly pour in milk and whisk bringing to a gentle boil.  Add in the Velveeta and cheddar cheese and stir until cheese has melted.  Pour in the cooked macaroni and stir to coat with the cheese mixture.  Pour into a 13 x 9 pan and allow mac & cheese to set up and cool, overnight is ideal but at least 4 hours to be sure it has set up.

Make the Mac & Cheese Balls
You'll Need

• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1 cup panko bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
• salt & pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line baking sheets with parchment paper.  Using 3 separate bowls, place the eggs in 1, the flour in another and lastly the panko bread crumbs with the Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper in the last.  Remove the mac & cheese from the fridge and begin to form into balls about 2 tablespoons large.  Roll balls into the eggs, then flour, finally dredge them in the panko mixture.  Place onto baking sheet and repeat process for remaining mac & cheese. Spray the coated balls with cooking spray and bake for 25 minutes.  I like to serve these with Franks hot sauce or they would even be good with salsa!

Lucy~