Dish of the month (May 2022): macaroni cheese

[NailBat]

Here’s my “macaroni and cheese” - cold, so it’s a macaroni salad:

View attachment 84630

It’s not elbow macaroni, but around here, just about any pasta that’s not long and skinny, or wide and flat, or a big shell, can rightly be called macaroni.

Dressing is mayonnaise, a little mustard, and sweet pickle juice. Other ingredients are white cheddar, hard-boiled eggs, pickled onion, and sweet pickles.

Building bridges, not walls.

Usually I say to hell with the purists, interpretation is where it's at. But what you made here already has a name: macaroni salad. It sounds fantastic though, I love macaroni salad.

 

[JAS_OH1]

Usually I say to hell with the purists, interpretation is where it's at. But what you made here already has a name: macaroni salad. It sounds fantastic though, I love macaroni salad.

But it's a macaroni and cheese salad. There is cheese in it!

 

[TastyReuben]

But it's a macaroni and cheese salad. There is cheese in it!

Exactly!

 

[NailBat]

But it's a macaroni and cheese salad. There is cheese in it!

"You are technically correct. The best kind of correct"

 

[caseydog]

Agreed. Mac & Cheese is a US "classic" - but the title is basically "pasta" and "cheese".

It has evolved into something very International. Chef's all over are playing with it.

CD

 

[karadekoolaid]

Chef's all over are playing with it.

dunno about that. I´ve seen it on a few menus in UK, but mostly those which have a standard menu. You know:
Burger
Another Burger
Plant-based Vurger.
Fish & Chips
Steak
Pizza
Mac & Cheese
Chicken something-or-other

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

It has evolved into something very International. Chef's all over are playing with it.

CD

Which translates to its boring as hell and needs help!

 

[JAS_OH1]

Which translates to its boring as hell and needs help!

That blue box powder cheese is the worst. So anything but that.

 

[karadekoolaid]

" The Cheesiest!"

Yep. Exactly.
Definition of cheesy:
Of very poor quality; flimsy
synonyms:bum, cheap, chintzy, crummy, punk, sleazy, tinny,inferior
of low or inferior quality

 

[JAS_OH1]

" The Cheesiest!"

Yep. Exactly.
Definition of cheesy:
Of very poor quality; flimsy
synonyms:bum, cheap, chintzy, crummy, punk, sleazy, tinny,inferior
of low or inferior quality

But chintzy can also refer to a cheesy floral design.

 

[NailBat]

I think it would be pretty funny if this thread lasts for weeks without a single traditional version of macaroni and cheese.

 

[TastyReuben]

View attachment 84635

That blue box powder cheese is the worst. So anything but that.

Now that would be a fun challenge - everyone has to make something that uses that blue box stuff as a starting point or ingredient.

You think that stuff’s bad…growing up, the only spaghetti my dad would let my mom serve was Kraft’s Spaghetti Dinner - same size box as the macaroni one, about half-filled with dried spaghetti, and…a packet of powdered spaghetti sauce.

It’s exactly as delicious as it sounds.

I think it would be pretty funny if this thread lasts for weeks without a single traditional version of macaroni and cheese.

Well, you know that’s going to happen - no one’s going to make plain ol’ macaroni and cheese, on the stove or baked.

I’ve already been thinking about pizza macaroni and cheese…taco macaroni and cheese…my mom used to stir in a can of tuna, or cut up hot dogs in it…macaroni and cheese as a pizza topping is somewhat popular here…make the sauce sweet and use mascarpone and have a dessert macaroni and cheese…do one based on the ever-popular spinach-artichoke dip…it’s endless.

 

[JAS_OH1]

Now that would be a fun challenge - everyone has to make something that uses that blue box stuff as a starting point or ingredient.

I will leave that to the Chopped TV show contestants.

I’ve already been thinking about pizza macaroni and cheese…taco macaroni and cheese…my mom used to stir in a can of tuna...

When I first met my husband, he used to make the kids boxed mac and cheese and stir in a can of tuna. Yeah, NO. Once they got ahold of my homemade version they never wanted the blue box again!

 

[caseydog]

Which translates to its boring as hell and needs help!

Just like risotto. Plain risotto doesn't have much going on. But, it's a good foundation to build something on.

CD

 

[MaximumSam]

Yeah, I just don't like eating flour, cornstarch, etc. as a thickener. Bring on the heavy cream everytime! I am not saying it's wrong for anyone to do make a roux, it's just my personal preference, and I thought maybe MaximumSam doesn't like his mac n cheese because that.

I sure which lobster wasn't so expensive right now. A lobster macaroni and cheese would be awesome.

Maybe! At the least can't go wrong with cream and cheese