What's wrong with my Mac & Cheese?

[MotifNumberOne]

OP - I hope the new recipe works out for you! it's really so much better tasting, and much healthier for your family to eat the real stuff. The boxed, powdered, orange stuff has some potentially harmful chemical additives, and velveeta isn't even real cheese - its' "pasteurized cheese product"

 

[tvguy]

OP here. Thanks for all of your replies. I've come to the conclusion that...

1--I didn't use enough milk
2--I didn't use whole mile or 1/2 & 1/2 (We only have skim in the house)
3--Probably used too much cheese
4--And I don't think I used much in the way of spices (did put some S&P in the sauce though)


Her original recipe did call for sauteed onions but I thought that was a bit weird, so I didn't do it. But maybe next time I will.

Other than number 3, I think you are right. As for number 3, you can never use too much cheese.

 

[LilyWDW]

Or... you could not be a baked mac and cheese fan. I prefer a stove top mac and cheese to a baked one. And I really dislike baked mac and cheese that uses egg in the mixture.

 

[mhsjax]

Or... you could not be a baked mac and cheese fan. I prefer a stove top mac and cheese to a baked one. And I really dislike baked mac and cheese that uses egg in the mixture.

Count me in with you. I don't like mac n chefs to begin with, such a dull and boring food, but if I have to eat it, I take the dove top kind. Even dare I say Kraft mac n cheese. I hate all other processed food and tend to only cook and bake from scratch, but I guess if you don't like the food to begin with, then processed is probably better.

 

[wowsmom]

I picked up a recipe for rice cooker mac n cheese from someone here on the Dis and it is awesome! Google Wolfgang Puck rice cooker mac n cheese. I tend to go overboard on the cheese and it gets a little stringy, but it tastes sooooo good!

That sounds really easy and really good...printed it out so I can try it soon.

Our favorite mac & cheese lately is the frozen stuff from Trader Joe's. Takes about 6 minutes in the microwave and is super tasty.

 

[tasha99]

Around here it is made with onions as well, and many people also add pepper sauce made from hot red peppers and mustard (though for kids that would be left out). We use English or New Zealand block cheddar, which is a very pale yellow cheese rather than a yellow or orange one. It has a robust flavour but is also very creamy, not crumbly.

I sometimes use a little hot sauce in mine.

I picked up a recipe for rice cooker mac n cheese from someone here on the Dis and it is awesome! Google Wolfgang Puck rice cooker mac n cheese. I tend to go overboard on the cheese and it gets a little stringy, but it tastes sooooo good!

Someone else posted that you can't have too much cheese, but I've noticed there is a point where it strings. Tastes good, but I like to have a milk/cheese ratio that is as much cheese as possible, but not stringy. I overshoot it often, but it's still delicious.

 

[spacemountainmom]

That sounds really easy and really good...printed it out so I can try it soon.

Our favorite mac & cheese lately is the frozen stuff from Trader Joe's. Takes about 6 minutes in the microwave and is super tasty.

I had been on the lookout for a good baked mac n cheese and never seemed to find one that captured the taste I was looking for. Applebees used to have one as a side dish that was wonderful, but they took it off the menu.

I really like the Wolfgang Puck one and it is so easy. I think it's the combinaton of the chicken broth (I go a little heavy on the bouillion) and the the combo of cheddar, mozzarella and parmesan cheeses. I am craving some right now! I have used milk instead of half and half and it still tastes pretty good.

Hope you like it!

 

[triciari]

OP here. Thanks for all of your replies. I've come to the conclusion that...

1--I didn't use enough milk
2--I didn't use whole mile or 1/2 & 1/2 (We only have skim in the house)
3--Probably used too much cheese
4--And I don't think I used much in the way of spices (did put some S&P in the sauce though)

Her original recipe did call for sauteed onions but I thought that was a bit weird, so I didn't do it. But maybe next time I will.

I like the suggestion of dry mustard (colemans is what I use), but also recommend you add some nutmeg. Sounds weird, but really works.

 

[ronandannette]

How much cheese and how much macaroni do I use for this recipe? It sounds really good.

Sounds silly, but I'm really only guessing - made this so many times I never measure. Try 2 cups of uncooked macaroni and 2 cups shredded cheese. (You could always add more cheese if you see a need.) If you're doing the ham, use about a cup of cubes and sautee 1/2 cup celery and 2 sliced scallions. Fold in 1 cup frozen peas just before you put it in the oven.

For Wishing On A Star - thanks for the info on the cheese. Here it is not called American cheese, it's called "processed cheese food" (even the good Kraft Deluxe ones). I buy them occasionally for grilled cheese sandwiches and BTW, here you can also get Velveeta in this form (those make a pretty good grilled cheese!!).

 

[shortbun]

When we got married, DH asked that I never serve him food with Velveeta and I asked that he never bring Ramen noodles into our home. Our son and his friends have demanded Ramen but DH has not eaten it. I have never cooked with Velveeta again. I make a rue and turn it into a cheese sauce-a la French cooking. Then I bake the mac and cheese with a little onion stirred in and it's pretty wonderful. The teens LOVE the Kraft in a box and only tolerate Mom's special recipe.