Make Boxed Mac 'N' Cheese Fancy

[struggle4progress]

[Major Nikon]

1. I found a source for the cheese powder in bulk

You can melt real cheese into a bechamel sauce and that works well. I've tried using all sorts of cheese, but for whatever reason I prefer using powdered cheese for macaroni. It makes for a more creamy cheese sauce rather than one that is gooey like you get with melting cheeses. I prefer using either elbow macaroni or penne.

The basic recipe is a great jumping off point. You can add various meats, herbs, and spices from there.

[csziggy]

11. Besides, the cheese powder is great on popcorn!

Kraft used to sell Mac&Cheese cheese powder but they have discontinued it. I got hooked on sprinkling it on my popcorn - I'd make plain, unflavored, no oil popcorn, spray with butter flavored cooking spray, then sprinkle with cheese powder and a little salt.

I've had a lot of dental issues over the last year but when I can get back to eating popcorn, I will order cheddar cheese powder in bulk so I can have my favorite flavor popcorn again!

[rusty quoin]

2. What a good process. My family gave up on box Mac and Cheese long ago, but I might try this.

[mr_lebowski]

3. I do mine with spicy italian sausage slices (preferably grilled)

and sauteed sweet onion and bell pepper (preferably red & green).

Just make the melange while water boils and mac cooks, make the Mac & Cheese as normal, then dump in the sausage/pepper mix at very end, and mix.

It's freaking delicious. Esp. with some Siracha on top!

[Auggie]

4. How is this better than making from scratch?

If you're going to make it, make it.

Fuck Kraft and their processed crap.

[struggle4progress]

5. +

[Auggie]

7. Thanks for being cool with my response ...

I didn't mean to dump on your thread -- not in a mean-spririted way. All of us have doctored process foods at least once in our lives. I just hate Kraft Mac n Cheese.

[struggle4progress]

8. The challenge was a bit like "Make a gourmet dinner from Kibbles and Bits!"

[Auggie]

9. Hah!

[Saviolo]

6. If you're going to put significant effort into boxed Mac&Cheese

It's honestly not all that much more effort to just make the real deal.

From roux through to sauce mornay, then toss your pasta in. Easy, done, delicious, and you can use any kind of cheese.

[spinbaby]

10. Real cheese can turn grainy

I used to use half American cheese to counteract the graininess, but then I discovered the wonders of sodium citrate—a tiny pinch will smooth out any cheese sauce.