KD and versions thereof.

[agoodwinsmith]

Without knowing anything about how much the person was paid, I do know that the person who thought up the idea of selling macaroni noodles and a pouch of dessicated cheese product in a box with easy instructions for constructing a meal was not paid enough.  I know this because they are not the richest person in the world.

Yes, not haute cuisine, but satisfying and quick, and you can put peas in it.

We actually prefer the President's Choice White Cheddar version from, yes, Real Canadian Superstore, but hey.

Comments

[jessie-c.livejournal.com]

For the not-vegetarian, a tinna tuna is a wonderful addition. Also Schnieders' Au Naturel meatless meatballs do very nicely therein.

[agoodwinsmith.livejournal.com]

That's true - and I'm fond of diced bacon. Another tasty addition is your favourite curry powder. Nom.

[cat63.livejournal.com]

I can certainly see where the dried stuff is handy, but making cheese sauce really isn't that difficult or time consuming. I mean I can do it, so how hard can it be? :-)

[agoodwinsmith.livejournal.com]

Well, yes, but it takes at least 15 minutes to cook, plus time to grate the cheese, and more time to find the flour since one doesn't actually bake very often.

And there is the issue of two pots and four spoons and a grater to wash, whereas KD requires one pot and one spoon, and you can be stuffing your face in 15 minutes maximum. I mean, even the frozen peas can be chucked in the boiling noodle water for the last 3 minutes. You know?

*Aaaannnndd* - *if* you are going to go the trouble of making your own cheese sauce, then you have to put the whole mix-up mess in a casserole with a crumb crust on top and bake it in the oven for 40 minutes.

So, yes, homemade is really and truly better (nom nom), but it is an hour between noticing hunger and sticking a spoon in one's mouth, and the dishes just never seem to end. :)

[cat63.livejournal.com]

*Aaaannnndd* - *if* you are going to go the trouble of making your own cheese sauce, then you have to put the whole mix-up mess in a casserole with a crumb crust on top and bake it in the oven for 40 minutes.

I can honestly say I've never done that :-)

Macaroni cheese as I know it involves no baking whatsoever, just the cooked pasta and the cheese sauce (without peas but with cashew nuts and fake bacon bits and sometimes fried leeks).

I am a pretty lazy person, so I can certainly see the appeal of quick food :-)

I tend not to use a lot of it though, as most of it contains dried onion and that tends to do nasty things to Rob's tummy :-(

[agoodwinsmith.livejournal.com]

Next time you make home-made cheese-sauce mac'n'cheese, try putting it in a casserole and covering the top with a layer of crushed (crumbled, not powdered) saltine crackers dotted with butter and baking it uncovered in the oven (at 350 F) until the top is browned. Nomity nomity nom.

Yes, you're right, that's the downside of quick food - no control over the ingredients.

[cat63.livejournal.com]

Saltine crackers? Is that a brand or a sort of cracker? Either way, I don't think we have them in these parts, otherwise I'd certainly be tempted to give it a try (if I could wait long enough :-)). Thanks for the recipe!

[agoodwinsmith.livejournal.com]

Soda cracker? Soup cracker?

Dis kind:
http://www.nabiscoworld.com/Brands/ProductInformation.aspx?BrandKey=premium&Site=1&Product=4400000382

Plain, beige salty cracker for putting cheese chunks on.

[cat63.livejournal.com]

Soda cracker? Soup cracker?

Nope, sorry :-)

Dis kind:

Alas, I know them not...

Plain, beige salty cracker for putting cheese chunks on.

I had a peer at the bikkit aisle Sainsbury's this morning and there were quite a few sorts of cheese-putting-on type crackers, but they all seemed to be either not very salty (people here can be a bit paranoid about eating too much salt) or flavoured with other things. Though I expect something flavoured with garlic and/or herbs might work quite well actually.

[agoodwinsmith.livejournal.com]

Ritz crackers as an alternative?
http://www.nabiscoworld.com/Brands/ProductInformation.aspx?BrandKey=ritz&Site=1&Product=4400000028

They are richer, but would crumble properly. If all else fails, then dry bread crumbs works - but not as tasty.

[cat63.livejournal.com]

Ritz crackers as an alternative?

OOh, that's a good think! Thank you.

[shriker-tam.livejournal.com]

In my personal opinion, instant mac and cheese may be the vilest food known to man. I say "may", because I haven't actually eaten raw grubs, or chicken feet - but among things regularly eaten in the western world, it's definitely up there. Xop

Of course, I say that knowing full well many many many people will not agree with me. They are odd.

[agoodwinsmith.livejournal.com]

Nonono - it's warm and greasy and salty and cheesy. Nom nom nom. :)

Now, porridge - *there's* a disgusting food. Slimey and sticky and smelly and foul. Argle.

[shriker-tam.livejournal.com]

Porrige...depends on the type. Oatmeal I have no particular issues with, if made right.

[agoodwinsmith.livejournal.com]

Oooo, oatmeal is my least favorite - I wouldn't even eat it as a baby. Red River Cereal cooked with lots of raisins and then well lubricated with apple sauce (lactose intolerant) is very nice though.

[moustachios.livejournal.com]

Yes.

But there is something about childhood nostalgia that can make even such vile things seem appealing every now and then.

I like ketchup on mine.

[agoodwinsmith.livejournal.com]

Every now and then I like to mix in browned ground round and a dollop of cheeze whiz into mine. *Very* greasy, *very* salty; not delicate in any way. :)

[desperance.livejournal.com]

Me, I also had macaroni cheese tonight! It was, um, not instant; but swift and easy none the less. In the time it takes a panful of orecchiette to boil, I can make a cheese sauce: with blue Stilton today, as I had broccoli to go in with the pasta, and I persist in believing that broccoli and blue cheese is one of my finer inventions. Cheddar grated over the top and slammed under a hot grill till crisp, and there you go...

[agoodwinsmith.livejournal.com]

Broccoli is nice. I'm not sure I could bring myself to use stilton that way since I like it so much as a cheese and nibbles cheese. But, if I were served same: nom.