Mac and cheese lava cake

For the macaroni and cheese

3 cups cooked (al dente) elbow macaroni 4 tablespoons butter, softened 2 cups half-and-half 1 cup milk 4 dashes salt 4 dashes ground black pepper 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese 1 cup shredded mozzarella 2 teaspoons flour

For the lava cake

Cooking spray Prepared macaroni and cheese (from recipe above) 3/4 cup diced Velveeta cheese 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper 3/4 cup diced cooked bacon bits 1-1/2 cups flour 3 eggs, beaten 1-1/2 cups garlic- and herb-seasoned breadcrumbs (or other seasonings) 1-1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs 2 cups canola oil (amount may vary depending on size of pan used)

Directions: For the macaroni and cheese

Heat a medium-size pan on low to medium heat. Add the butter, and stir. Add the half-and-half, milk, salt, pepper and garlic powder. Continuously stir. Add the cheddar and mozzarella cheese. Continuously stir. Add flour, and stir. Add the macaroni, and stir. Remove the pan from the heat in preparation to make the lava cake. For the lava cake

In a muffin tin, spray cooking spray into 7 muffin spaces. Ladle macaroni and cheese into the spaces that have cooking spray in them. Reserve the remaining macaroni and cheese for use later. Chill the macaroni and cheese in the muffin tray and the reserved macaroni and cheese in the refrigerator for 2 hours. Using a knife, cut around the edges of each muffin space to carefully remove each macaroni and cheese "cake." Set on a plate with the bottom side up. They may need to be reshaped at the top (which was the bottom when it was in the tin). Carefully cut out a "well" from the middle of each cake. Use a small spoon if needed to make the well large enough for additional cheese to be placed (the "lava"). Into the well of each cake, add about 1-1/2 tablespoons of the Velveeta cheese. Use the reserved macaroni and cheese to cover the top of the cake. Pack the additional macaroni and cheese tightly, and reshape the cake if needed. Chill the cakes in the refrigerator for about 1 hour. To each cake, add salt and pepper. Sprinkle the bacon bits on the top and sides of each cake. Dredge each cake in flour, then dip them in the egg, then dredge in the seasoned breadcrumbs and panko breadcrumbs. To a medium-size pot, add canola oil. Make sure the level of canola oil is not higher than 1/3 of the depth of the pot. Heat the pot on low to medium heat. Drop a small piece of panko breadcrumbs into the oil; when it sizzles, use a large spoon to carefully lower the cake into the oil. The oil should not get too hot — make sure it stays at about 325 degrees F. Using the large spoon, carefully turn the cake over to the other side while in the oil. It will brown quickly. Carefully remove the cake from the oil, and lay it on a cooling rack while cooking the remaining cakes. Make sure to constantly watch the oil to make sure it's not too hot. If the oil gets too hot, remove the pot from the heat, and let it cool before frying the remaining cakes. Just before serving the cakes, put each one in the microwave for about 20 seconds or long enough for the cheese in the middle to melt. Then make a cut at the top of the cake, and cut down toward the bottom to let out the "lava."

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