About Macaroni and Cheese
For generations, macaroni and cheese has been a mainstay of family dinners and while the dish may not be placed on a fancy dinner buffet, it will always have a place in the hearts of those who love it. Macaroni and cheese can be simple or fancy, fast or slow-cooked, but no matter how you make it, the dish is sure to be a family favorite. Does this Spark an idea?
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History
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It is believed that Thomas Jefferson first served macaroni and cheese at a White House dinner. What is known is that his cousin, Mary Randolph, included the recipe in her cookbook, "The Virginia Housewife" in 1824. The dish became extremely popular when the Kraft Company introduced an inexpensive simple-to-make boxed version in 1937.
Significance
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Since the introduction of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, more than 1 million boxes of the product are claimed to be sold daily. While it's simple to make from scratch, the price and convenience of the boxed version make the dish a quick and easy meal or side dish that can be put on the table in a matter of minutes.
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Types
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Macaroni and cheese can be made from scratch using regular cooked elbow macaroni and melted cheddar or processed American cheese. The simple box dish is made with the addition of milk and butter and can cooked either on the stovetop or microwave. Kraft now produces several dozen different macaroni and cheese dinners.
Identification
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Macaroni and cheese is easy to identify by the cheese sauce and the use of elbow macaroni. While other cheeses, such as white cheeses, and other types of pasta may be used, the most popular version includes cheddar cheese and elbow macaroni.
Considerations
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Almost any ingredient can be added to macaroni and cheese. Popular choices include tuna, browned hamburger, mushrooms or vegetables such as chopped broccoli or carrots. While the dish can be made completely on the stovetop, many cooks prefer to bake the prepared ingredients adding in a bit of milk to make the sauce even creamier.
Benefits
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Macaroni and cheese is a dish that even the pickiest of eaters will love. It is simple to make, whether from scratch or from a box and can serve as the main dish of the meal, making it easy even on the leanest of budgets. It can be prepared as plain or as elegant as desired and is sure to become a family favorite. Macaroni and cheese is so popular that entire websites are devoted to the many different recipes available for the dish.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Mac & Cheese by KYares
