Real Simple tastes boxed mac and cheese

3-08-2006 @7:45PM Grandma said... My grandson is only 5 years old. He won't eat anything but the Kraft M&C. Tried my homemade version which the entire family loves. It was a no-no.
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3-08-2006 @7:49PM Renee said... My blended family is VERY picky. I tried the Annie's since that was what I fed my son, however, when we became a blended family, they balked at the Annie's, even though I thought it was much better. I won't make it because I think it has to much fat & sodium. I feel they need something more substanstial as a meal, however, I do buy the Easy Mac if they want to make it as an after school snack. 1 envelope per person, so the servings are not "confused". They can't have it every day and have to eat healthy most of the time. Water or milk to drink with meals and rarely a soda pop makes them cringe as well! As stated before in another comment, I add a little of cayenne pepper because it makes Annie's "zippier". If you are looking for a whole wheat version, I HIGHLY recommend it.
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3-08-2006 @7:54PM Teresa Pinnock said... Well it's in a box, but it is a frozen food,
Stauffers mac-n-cheese is by far the best, the cheese is creamy and rich-made from real cheese, and it's so easy to make, just pop it in the microwave or oven and it's ready in no time.However it is loaded with calories but is well worth it.
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3-08-2006 @7:55PM Martin Svensson said... I would consider frozen macaroni and cheese in this category as well. Try Old Glory brand frozen mac 'n cheese. It is amazingly good.
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3-08-2006 @7:55PM LINDA said... Have you ever heard of Velveta shells & cheese. The creamist cheese sauce there is. No milk, no butter, and no cheese powder!
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3-08-2006 @8:01PM barbara said... i was brought up on"kraft mac & cheese with the powder cheese. but then i tried the deluxe with the soft package of chedder cheese and what a difference. i have never heard of "annies" or the other ones. and making your own homemade with velveeta meltable cheese is the best.
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3-08-2006 @8:04PM Nancy said... My kids will only eat "the Blue Box" Kraft Macaroni & Cheese & they are 13 & 17 now. They won't even eat Velveeta & Shells, any store brand or other brand, homemade or any other type.

I, too, think every "homemade" version I have ever had, anywhere made by anyone -- was disgusting. Just the thought of that browned cheese on top makes me ill.

Maybe we just don't like REAL Macaroni & Cheese except for whatever the blue box contents are supposed to be.

So we buy the Kraft blue box stuff on sale - last week I paid three for a dollar here in the Chicago Suburbs - and eat it occasionally.

We like Easy Mac, too. Go figure. I guess we are NOT gourmets. LOL LOL
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3-08-2006 @8:19PM Greg said... I also grew up on the Kraft blue box, but everyone in the family...5 kids included....loves the shells and cheese much better. Try throwing in some cubed ham pieces and you'll never eat that powdered crap again!!
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3-08-2006 @8:21PM Helen Bradley said... At age 73-I wouldn't even THINK of using mac from a box!! (All of my children do.) Just boil up some elbows in salted water for 11 minutes. Drain. Put by layers into a flat, glass (cake pan)that has been sprayed with PAM. Mac on bottom layer, shredded cheddar, butter, salt & pepper, then continue to layer until all ingredients are gone. Add about 1 to 1 1/2 cups of milk. I use low-fat cheese & milk. Bake @ 350 for about 30 minutes--mmmmmmmmm good!!!!! A 16 oz. box of shells, to 16 oz. of cheese
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3-08-2006 @8:23PM Nana to 6 said... add a can of no beans wolf brand chili to Mac and Cheese and it is great. My mother use to blend the mac and cheese after it was cooked with a Can of Texas Wolf Brand chili ,no beans, and some chopped Onion and put some grated cheese on top ..heat in the over and a cheap and wonderful dinner was had by all. I miss her to this day and her meals
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3-08-2006 @8:30PM Irene H Bushman said... My family loves me to make mac and cheese for holidays and parties. Ditch the powdered cheeses but add Velveeta sl in 1/8 inch half pieces and sprinkle in layers along with grated Kraft sharp cheddar cheese,make medium white sauce and add one teasp. French's mustard, one Tablespoon grated onion mix tog; then in 3 layers (like a lasagna,)add the macaroni, then 1/3 of the white sauce, the final and top layer, mix 1/3 cup bread crumbs with softened butter or margarine and sprinkle over the whole top and also with Parmesan Cheese.
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3-09-2006 @10:56AM Susie said... If you are from a poor family and can't afford the more expensive kinds of Mac n' Cheese-- try this: add 1 can of cream of mushroom soup and 1 can of drained tuna and 1 can of drained peas.....delicious, makes even the "gross" mac n' cheese mixes good! You don't need to add all 3 of these ingredients, you can mix and match.
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3-09-2006 @10:59AM judith said... we tried Annies and found it had a very strange aftertaste. It was lacking in flavor--like something more needed to be added to make it more palatable. I agree with others that the best mac and cheese is the old-fashioned kind---home-made!
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3-09-2006 @11:00AM Sharon said... This is for Lisa, who is looking for a homemade mac and cheese recipe. It really doesn't take that long and it is so much better for you. My family loves it and I even have friends and acquiantances asking for it at every gathering!
Sauce:
1/4 cup unsalted butter
1/4 cup flour
2 cups milk
salt and pepper to taste
finely shredded extra sharp chedder cheese approx 2 cups

Start macaroni on stove and melt butter in seperate pan. When melted add flour and salt and pepper. Cook this mixture until flour is thoroughly dissolved and golden in color. Add milk and cook, stirring occasionaly, until thick and bubbly. On med heat, about 5-10 mins. Need to watch it because it can stick to the bottom of pan and burn. When done remove from heat and add cheese. I like to save a bit to put on top of casserole so it forms a crispy crust as it bakes. Combine cheese sauce with drained, cooked macaroni, top with cheese and bake at 375 for 20 mins or until bubbly and crust is crisp. Let stand for 10 mins and serve. Its so old fashioned but OH SO GOOD! You can also experiment with whole wheat pasta, flour, etc. I hope you like it!
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3-09-2006 @11:02AM Amy said... Try mac and cheese with 98% fat free ground turkey meat. Everyone loves it.
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3-09-2006 @11:03AM Lyn said... My kids are fans of the Kraft Mac 'n Cheese. For a change of pace, I like to add seasoned taco meat. My kids love it!
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3-09-2006 @11:04AM WJ Nunn said... I grew up on homemade baked macaroni and cheese. I don't really care for the boxed macaroni and cheese and hate the powdered cheese. The boxed stuff tastes really bland to me, so i always add things like peas or corn or baked beans or tuna and make it a casserole dish. The kind with the cheese sauce is a little better but still not as good as the homemade kind I grew up with, but since cheese is so expensive, most of the time I have to buy the boxed kind. My grocery store does not sell these new ones either.
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3-09-2006 @11:04AM Jerry Bissonnette (mrs) said... i always melt my cheese and butter (block cheese) add milk and sometimes a can of diced seasoned tomatoes and its great!!! my family loves it there are so many things that you can do with it, even add a can of tuna fish to it, try it you will like it.
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3-09-2006 @11:10AM Sean (skeletontea) said... To the person claiming carbs as the reason for sleep induction: There is another element that plays a role in this, ?Casomorphins, an opioid peptide derived from casein (and therefore found in dairy).

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