I wrote recently about my son’s “experience” making pancakes in his life skills class. So when he came home to tell me he made “mac and cheese”, I immediately put on my Sherlock Holmes hat and began investigating… did he “learn to” use a box with that horrible cheese powder? Did he actually make a bechamel sauce and melt cheeses, in the end learning to create real macaroni and cheese? Or was I missing something? Arghhh! Please don’t tell me he heated up any prepared food with other unnecessary preservatives!
Well, much to my surprise he made the real thing, something I don’t do very often myself. I certainly know how, but… for him…really? In life skills?! More questions ensued.
I won’t bore you with all of the details, but I will say that after I thought about it (and he couldn’t tell me much) I got to thinking… was this something he would do again? I needed a recipe that could stand up to the ease of the box or pre-made. I don’t see the real thing happening on his own.
And so I was led to a recipe a dear friend shared with me. It would be easy IF the Kid Cooks liked it. It has a different tang but my kids like flavor.
So, here is a VERY simple recipe that my kids like — actually my husband asked “Hey, where has this recipe been all of our life?” And I think it is a win-win because, with fresher ingredients that are less expensive and rapid prep, it should have every reason to beat the ‘box kind” in their future decisions. Hold fast kids – don’t be transfixed by the orange powder on the grocery shelf!!
Makes 6 – 8 servings
Get:
- One box (16 ounces) pasta – usually elbow or cavatappi
- 1 cup sour cream
- 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
Need:
Large pasta pot
Colander
Cooking Spoon
Cook:
- Cook pasta using box directions.
- When done, turn off stove and drain pasta.
- While draining, place sour cream and cheese in hot pot and stir to mix.
- Add pasta to pot carefully.
- Stir cheese mixture with pasta until completely mixed.
Serve.
pdf version of recipe >> Easy Mac and Cheese