Friday, August 27, 2010

Don't be a hater macaroni and cheese for a friend

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A friend and neighbor of mine lost a loved one this week. I never know what to do to help in this circumstance so I always turn to food. Then I wonder if the food will be more of a pain in the butt or a help. So, I thought of Mac and Cheese because worse come to worse I knew that she could feed it to her kids and that would be one less thing to think of.

Now comes the embarrassing part where I have to justify this recipe. Here it goes in once sentence: It is the one that my mother always made and so it is comfort food to me. Everyone that has ever tasted it has loved it (or so they say which they shouldn't if they don't mean it because then I will make it again).

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A roux is made with butter and flour and then the cheese is added.

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Then it is all mixed together and sprinkled with cornmeal and dotted with butter. Into the oven it goes.

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Yummy goodness comes out of the oven.

Um, what was that? I forgot to mention the cheese? Uh.....

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Don't hate me. It is my mothers fault.

16 ounces macaroni (uncooked)
1/2 cup butter + some to dot on top
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
3 cups milk
16 ounces Velveeta cheese, cut into chunks
salt and pepper
cornmeal


Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cook macaroni according to directions and drain.

Melt buttyer in a large saucepan. Add flour and whisk together. Whisk in milk and cook over medium heat until mixture starts to bubble and thickens. Stir constantly. Add Velveeta to the mixture and allow to melt. Salt and pepper to taste.

Pour macaroni into a 13x9 oblong baking dish. Pour sauce over macaroni and combine well. Sprinkle cornmeal on top and dot with butter.

Bake in the oven for 30 minutes.


Ok lets move on to my more "natural side" My homegrown tomato side. My folksy canning my own stuff side.

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Dr Food wanted me to can some salsa (a modified cooked version of the recipe that I posted the other day). So, I turned on the grill and roasted the tomatoes that I picked just that morning.

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So after they roasted I let them cool off so that I could peel them.

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I know what she is thinking. She is thinking "Tomatoes Stamatoes... You still made Mac and Cheese with VELVEETA.

18 comments :

  1. Sorry to hear about your sad news... What a good neighbor you are. Mac and cheese is the quintessential comfort food.

    Cheers to your 'sous chef'!

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  2. I'm sorry for your friend's loss. Comfort food helps. Those tomatoes look juicy.

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  3. Looks delicious...sorry for your neighbor's loss. Mac and Cheese has always been a comfort food for me too :-)

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  4. LOVE It! I love the cornmeal topping! I've never had it like that, but it sounds so good! Crunch is always a good thing. The velveeta...my mom used it too. It was my favorite. I would each hunks of it. I still love it, but don't buy it so much. Now that I'm grown, salty things like that make me blow up like a floation device with all the salt. All that to say, it's worth it sometimes. It's so darn good. Your puppy is adorable.

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  5. I just have to say that I am madly in love with all of you for being such amazing enablers! I owe you one.

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  6. Mac n Cheese is the ultimate comfort food!

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  7. there is definitely the velveeta school of thought out there - while I never acquired a taste for it myself many have - and while I still have an open mind about it and will try it every now and again it isnt something that sticks with me - but you know what .....I would gobble up this mac and cheese regardless...(I think my problem is I always want to taste the velveeta plain)

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  8. Thomas: It is. It reallllly is.

    Doggy: You made my day. Try it you will like it. I detest Velveeta plain. As a matter of fact I took a nibble of it plain while I was making this and it actually made me gag. In this recipe I can't get enough of it.

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  9. velvetta does make a great mac and cheese! love your little furbaby there too!

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  10. Chef: Thanks! My dog loves mac and cheese too :--)

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  11. Love the blog! Velveeta. Funny stuff.
    diane

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  12. Mac & Cheese - Good on you for making a friend feel more comfortable.

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  13. You mean there's another way to make mac and cheese? If it's for kids, there's no other way. Same rule as with grilled cheese sandwiches...they must be made with American cheese, not any kind of Cheddar. That's just life. Kudos to you!

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  14. OMG!!! I love this recipe. I haven't had a good mac n cheese in ages. This looks fab. I'd eat this any old time.

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  15. Love the blog! Velveeta. Funny stuff.
    diane

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  16. Thomas: It is. It reallllly is.

    Doggy: You made my day. Try it you will like it. I detest Velveeta plain. As a matter of fact I took a nibble of it plain while I was making this and it actually made me gag. In this recipe I can't get enough of it.

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  17. LOVE It! I love the cornmeal topping! I've never had it like that, but it sounds so good! Crunch is always a good thing. The velveeta...my mom used it too. It was my favorite. I would each hunks of it. I still love it, but don't buy it so much. Now that I'm grown, salty things like that make me blow up like a floation device with all the salt. All that to say, it's worth it sometimes. It's so darn good. Your puppy is adorable.

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