Well today for lunch, I decided it was high time I figured out how to make my own Macaroni and Cheese mix. I’ve been a little reluctant to try this because I tried it once in a pinch before the babysitter arrived and it didn’t work out….at all….AT ALL. Plus, I’m not a huge fan of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese…at least whatever they did to change it from when I was a little kid. (Anyone else noticed it has changed? It’s all watery and bland and not CHEESY) Anyway, the heavens smiled upon me today because it really came together. In fact, once I finished it I sat down and had a bowl myself right along with my kiddies. It was cheesy and thick. Like the kind of macaroni and cheese you order off of a kids meal at a restaurant. Super delicious! You’ll need Cheese Powder to do this with…you know….so it is legit like the blue box Macaroni and Cheese. Cheese powder is actually also great to use on popcorn to make it cheese popcorn…just sayin’
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MACARONI AND CHEESE MIX
(makes enough for 6 mixes)
heaping 1/2 C. non-instant dry milk powder or heaping 1 C. instant dry milk powder
heaping 1/2 C. cornstarch
2 C. cheese powder
1/3 C. butter powder (if you don’t want to or don’t have this powder just omit it and add fresh butter later)
Mix ingredients WELL and store in an airtight container.
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MAKING MACARONI AND CHEESE FROM THE MIX
2 C. noodles
heaping 1/2 C. Just like Kraft Macaroni and Cheese Mix
3/4 C. water
1 T. fresh butter (if you didn’t use the butter powder)
Cook noodles until al dente and drain but DO NOT RINSE. Put noodles back in pot, add water, mix and fresh butter (if you’re not using butter powder) Stir until thickened.
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ORIGINAL MACARONI AND CHEESE RECIPE:
1.5 T. non-instant dry milk powder or 3 T. instant dry milk powder
1.5 T. corn starch
1/3 C. cheese powder
1 T. butter or butter powder
3/4 C. water
2 C. noodles, COOKED
Combine ingredients together over a warm stove. Serve warm.
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CRYSTAL’S TIP
Okay, so if you really want to fake out the kids-make sure you use Barilla Piccolini Mini Ziti noodles. There are the kind that Kraft uses and only take 7 minutes to cook-just like Kraft. Or find fun shaped noodles that your kids will love (and usually are expensive as a store bought macaroni and cheese)
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