Macaroni and Cheese

Macaroni and Cheese is likely to be the basis of a number of meals. It’s cheap, easy and quick to fix, and is very adaptable. Although you can fix it from scratch, the boxed variety is the usual weapon of choice. Just make sure that you have milk and butter on hand when you make it, or else the powdered cheese may not mix right. Otherwise here are some simple suggestions to try:

Base Ingredients: You can always substitute margarine and oil for the butter. However, experiment with the oil once or twice; sometimes the powdered cheese doesn’t mix with oil, meaning that you’ll have a lot of powder and oil, or that it will be harder to mix than normal. Water can be substituted for the milk; other liquids are ill-advised, especially alcohol. They may mix normally, but the change in flavor is not worth it.

Meat: Virtually any kind of meat can be mixed into the pasta. The two most usual culprits will be hamburger and tuna. One pound of hamburger will work per two boxes, but remember to drain it. You may be tempted to substitute the fat for butter, but don’t; the powder may not mix right. Tuna must be drained completely, especially if it Is packed in oil. Debate tofu; this is one time it simply cannot be substituted for protein in this case because it comes off as starchy.

Vegetables: Pretty much any vegetable works here. Some personal favorites are tomatoes, zucchini, corn, and any number of vegetable mixes. Squash is debatable, but it’s more of consistency issue. Starchy vegetables, such yams and potatoes, should be debated as their starchiness makes a double starch issue, which should always be fought against. Onions should also be debated, but just because of the flavor.

Other: Because of the cheese flavor, try things before you cook for others; the cheese flavor may be too radically changed. However, any tomato sauce will work, as will canned chili. Ketchup and soy sauce will also work, but other condiments should be avoided. Most spices will add little to mix, but pepper will work rather well. Salt and garlic will usually make for a bad taste, so avoid adding more than a pinch to the water. Avoid anything that’s really sweet, and you should be okay.

Keep in mind that you can grill the mac & cheese once it’s ready, or even deep fry it, if you want something really different. This is something to have fun, and you can use it for almost any meal, so have some fun with it.