CHEAP AND EASY MAC AND CHEESE FOR MAC
CHEAP AND EASY MAC AND CHEESE UPGRADE
CHEAP AND EASY MAC AND CHEESE PLUS

It didn’t heat evenly, and trying to get something to boil took forever,īut by golly, it made a killer pot of macaroni and cheese. Instead, I used a little plug-in burner to make lots of one-pot meals. We weren’t going to live on freeze-dried noodles and canned soup.

We had no money, barely any kitchen, and I was already a passionate whole foodie. Needless to say, I had to get creative with meals. And I didn’t have to share it with my 6 children, our dog, and a couple chickens. I mean, this puppy had drywall and a window air conditioning unit. As a privileged first world-er suddenly plunked from the third world into a backyard shed, I was completely content. I had recently moved back to the States from West Africa. A tiny bar sink, a microwave, and 1.5 square feet of counter space. There was a fridge the size of a cooler – no freezer. It had drywall, a bathroom – even two windows. I mean, you’re probably doing this anyway, but let’s go ahead and point out that different hot sauces have different salient characteristics, so if you’ve been dallying only with Tabasco or Frank’s your whole life, consider the transformative qualities of sriracha, Valentina, gochujang, chili crisp, etc.The first year we were married, Chris and I lived in a 300 square-foot converted shed in someone’s backyard. Or if you’ve been regenerating scallions in your kitchen window, macaroni and cheese is yet another place that benefits from their everyday piquancy.

CHEAP AND EASY MAC AND CHEESE PLUS

White cheddar mac and cheese plus garlic equals a cheap and cheerful alfredo.

Add AromaticsĬaramelize an onion while you’re waiting for your pasta water to boil and now your kitchen even smells like you’re up to something extremely sophisticated. Needless to say you can add extra cheese and breadcrumbs and finish the thing in the oven for even more of a casserole outcome, but even a quick saute of panko breadcrumbs and olive oil tips boxed mac and cheese into a meal worth actually sitting at the table for. The quickest way to tease baked mac and cheese texture out of a stovetop mac and cheese process is with a smattering of toasted breadcrumbs.

Or go out of your usual bounds and add intrigue to your pantry staple with herbs such as a tarragon or chervil, or even blends such as herbes de Provence. Experiment with usual suspects like parsley or basil you could even put a few spoonfuls of pesto in for an herb and garlic boost. Herbs add massive flavor and color to any dish without adding much in the way of volume or caloric impact, and macaroni and cheese is no exception. Other green vegetables besides broccoli like spinach, Brussels sprouts, or asparagus are easy bedfellows, but cauliflower, roasted peppers, or even butternut squash are also equal to the task. Sautéed or roasted vegetables will add even more flavor if you have the wherewithal for an extra pot or pan. A low-maintenance way to add sturdy veggies right into your mac and cheese is to toss in a handful to the boiling water for the last minute or two before draining. Add a little tang with your richness with sour cream or cream cheese.ĭoes anyone else always take their mac and cheese with a side of vegetables or salad in order to achieve some sense of “balance” in the meal? Yes? Macaroni and cheese and broccoli are almost as ubiquitous a matchup as peas and carrots. Low fat milk does help keep it on the safer side nutritionally, but you’ve already committed to macaroni and cheese, so how much does that matter? You can enrich the situation with fuller-fat dairy options like whole milk, or-gasps- heavy cream. The milk in macaroni and cheese kits is merely acting as a liquid to help the butter and sauce mixture combine.

CHEAP AND EASY MAC AND CHEESE UPGRADE

Upgrade the texture with any sturdier, short-cut noodle like rotini, penne, or campanelle. Aim for al dente and save the macaroni for some killer art project. Smaller noodles are easier to overcook, as anyone who semi-fondly recalls the frayed look that boxed macaroni and cheese can sometimes achieve. Most mac and cheese kits rely on tiny macaroni noodles or shells to decrease the necessary boiling time-and therefore the time between when the craving hits and when the craving is satisfied.

CHEAP AND EASY MAC AND CHEESE FOR MAC

Or frankly-even though it doesn’t qualify as actual cheese-a couple of slices of American cheese does wonders for instant ramen noodles, so why not for mac and cheese? Upgrade the Noodles Improve both the taste and texture of boxed mac and cheese by adding some actual cheese to the mix: Mozzarella makes it stretchy, gruyere adds sweet and savory notes, cheddar keeps it classic, and even parmesan adds depth and additional saltiness. One need only look to pizza to understand how something already made with cheese benefits from extra cheese.

Cheap and easy mac and cheese