I'm flashing back all the way to when I was a kid and my grandma made the best macaroni and cheese. She baked it and put little bits of red peppers in and we picked that out, but it had a bread crumb topping and wasn't too cheesy, just the way we liked it and it was so good. She used American cheese and I'm not sure what else. Then I went to college and found out about Kraft Mac and Cheese in the blue box for 17 cents a box because my roommate put us on a budget. Spent all the food money on clothes shopping. We ate a lot of mac and cheese that year, but we dressed really nicely! but then again I like school food, hospital food and airplane food. Even the ravioli in the can, so I'm not so discriminating when it comes to comfort food. I never did get her mac and cheese down right, I still like Kraft in the box, and every once in a while I'll make mac and cheese from scratch. I love mac n cheese any which way! Reminds me of my grandma and that's a great flashback for me!
I've made Alton Brown's stovetop recipe. We like it! Even the time I overcooked it and the eggs sort of scrambled. I love mac and cheese any which way! When you make it the right way, it's creamy and rich and just really good comfort food!
Stovetop Mac-n-CheeseSource: Alton Brown, Good Eats - Food Network
Printable Recipe
1/2 pound elbow macaroni
4 tablespoons butter
2 eggs
6 ounces evaporated milk
1/2 teaspoon hot sauce
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Fresh black pepper
3/4 teaspoon dry mustard
10 ounces sharp cheddar, shredded
In a large pot of boiling, salted water cook the pasta to al dente and drain. Return to the pot and melt in the butter. Toss to coat.
Whisk together the eggs, milk, hot sauce, salt, pepper, and mustard. Stir into the pasta and add the cheese. Over low heat continue to stir for 3 minutes or until creamy.
Carol, mac and cheese is my all time favorite food. I love the blue box, but haven't had it in years. Sometimes I make stovetop and sometimes I bake...either way, I love it!
ReplyDeleteI loved the memories associated with this flashback, especially the well dressed college roommate one :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great comfort food bringing memories of grandma, do you ever had the red peppers in her honor?
I haven't had mac/cheese for 40 years, didn't like it growing up and never tried it again even when I made the blue box for my own kids.
Carol, I can just see you picking out the red peppers! I never did like the blue box kind, but the kids did. Mac and cheese is my favorite, especially if my mother makes it when I go home! I love to add a little bit of bleu cheese to it, top it with crushed buttered Ritz crackers....yum!
ReplyDeleteNice flashback, Carol ... Smart roommate, 17¢ per box is definitely a cheap dinner and clothes are definitely a priority at that age. ... You have such lovely cooking memories of your grandmother.
ReplyDeleteMy gkids like the blue box over my creamy, cheesy baked mac..Someday they will learn better..and I will be too old to make them the good stuff..
ReplyDeleteLooks delicious, Carol..
Anything goes in the name of looking good - LOL! Cute story, Carol. I ate lots of those blue box mac & cheeses in my college days too :)
ReplyDeleteHAve never been a fan of MAc & Cheese but my boys love it and the blue box was always a staple in the pantry while they were growing up!
ReplyDeleteI love mac and cheese and even love the one in the box. Alton Brown's show is one of my fav, and i want to try this recipe.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend!
You can't go wrong with Mac and Cheese thats for sure. I grew up with Kraft and it definitely was dinner for me many a night. I started adding sour cream instead of milk at some point to give it a little tanginess. Randy was amazed at how cheap (comparitively) Velveeta Shells and cheese are down here so I buy that for him lol. He'd probably go into shock if I made homemade. Thanks for joining me in the flashback!
ReplyDelete