Pseudo-homemade mac & cheese

macaroniBetween classes, work and late-night study sessions, it can be hard to prepare a home-cooked meal, especially one that can be as time consuming as the tried-and-true macaroni and cheese. We’re all guilty of occasionally opting for the just-add-water box mix or the super-cheap frozen variety, but sometimes, these dishes just taste … well, processed.

Thankfully, all it takes is an easy 30 seconds to bring your macaroni from flavorless and florescent orange to lip-lickin’ comfort food.

Utensils needed: microwave, spoon, bowl

Ingredients:

frozen macaroni

shredded Mexican blend or cheddar cheese (about 1.5 ounces per person)

Ritz crackers (optional)

hot sauce (optional)

Follow the box’s directions to cook the macaroni & cheese. Then, just as the timer chimes, pull it out of the microwave (don’t forget oven mitts!) and sprinkle 3 ounces of shredded cheese, if it’s the standard two-serving package.

Stir thoroughly, letting all the cheese melt. This thickens your mac & cheese, giving it a heartier flavor (tip: use  nonfat cheese to save some calories and fat).

For a more homemade taste, crush a couple Ritz crackers on top of your macaroni and cook it for another 20 seconds. This gives it a more southern flavor, but make sure you don’t microwave it for too long or the crumbles will get soggy.

If you’d like a little kick to the conventional mac & cheese, try stirring in a few drops of your favorite hot sauce. Taste-test your food to determine how much to use. For the two-serving boxes, one teaspoon is usually sufficient.

1 Comment

  1. […] A little shredded cheese and a crumble of Ritz crackers make super-cheap frozen mac taste homemade. For added flair, try topping with a few deli slices of a fancy, flavorful cheese (like smoked gruyere or truffle-infused gouda!) or st…. […]

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