Mac and cheese- blue box style?!
Mac and cheese- blue box style?
My husband grew up eating boxed, instant foods (hamburger helper, instant potatoes, spaghetti-o's, condensed soup casseroles, ramen, etc.) I am quite the opposite- I come from a family of chefs and grew up eating made from scratch cooking, so that is the way I cook, too.
My husband loves my cooking but lately he has been asking for mac and cheese like his mom used to make (read: the stuff out of the blue box.) I cannot actually bring myself to make it because it is so loaded up with chemicals and artificial stuff. How can I make mac and cheese that tastes like the blue box stuff but without all the nasty chemicals?
Answers:
Use only cheddar cheese. Season it with season salt, and cook it dry before you mix it in the noodles. Try a potatoe chip topping!
add homemade sawdust. that will do the trick.
He is your husband... I am sure he tolerates unpleasurable things in order to satisfy you. There is something about these kid foods that reminds home which gives them a sense of belonging. Whos says you have to eat it?
An alternative to the mac n cheese that you are referring to would be Velveeta shells and cheese. Still processed, but not a powder substance! You will find that he will like this much better and eventually you might find that he will learn to appreciate the taste of homemade vs boxed.
Why don't you just treat him to one of his old favorites every once in a while? You don't have to eat it, and it's not going to kill him to have it like twice a month.
I don't really like the box myself, so I use elbow macaroni, shredded cheddar cheese, a mix of milk and evaporated milk, some butter and a few bacon bits. You can add Velveeta if you like. I don't really measure my food, just add it til it looks about right (sorry!). I add a little mustard sometimes, pepper and salt (a must!), and some onions.
Bake it at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes, check at 20.
If you want to make it a meal, add some beef or tuna, and a can of tomatoes ( you can use fresh too). If you don't like canned tomatoes, add peas, or broccoli florets.
Sounds to me like he's remembering things from his childhood at times.If that's the case,then I'm sure you can find it in your heart to indulge him once in a great while.Or perhaps to make it more interesting,let him make out a list of items that he enjoys from time to time,and make a list of what you know from your upbringings,put all of these together,and share the different taste of years gone by together.That's one part memories as children growing up,one part sentimental values and respects to both sides of the family,and a dash of heart warming love for each other,and "VIOLA!" The perfect dish served.You two can discuss things about Dessert after that.
you can't replicate it, that's the beauty of the blue box. (kind of like campbell's condensed chicken noodle soup. sure the real stuff is way better, but there' something about the red label, the extra can of water, and the skinny noodles..... it just screams childhood)
if he is always eating your food (and luckily for you, loving it), what would it hurt to indulge his inner child every now and then? just because you don't agree with it, doesn't mean you have to eat it.
be a sport, love your husband, and let him be 5 for a half hour. it's not going to kill either of you.
You can't really reproduce Mac and Cheese from a box. I know the powder sauce mix is pretty frightening, but the pasta is fine, and the milk and butter are normal ingredients you use every day- just get over the powder and make it. Better Yet, this is one of the world's easist foods to make. Buy a couple boxes, and let him make it for himself- hopefully when you are out.