I have been given a present. And I’m a bit afraid of it.
It’s a teeny-tiny tin, only 200g. But it has the power to stop me cold.
Mac and cheese. Inna can.
I’m still coming to grips with mac and cheese in a box. I know, I know – Kraft Dinner is the gift of the gods. But… I never had that growing up. My mac and cheese was homemade, not baked but made on the stovetop. Elbow macaroni, real cheese, butter, milk, salt. That is it. I loved it, a great comfort food, and I’d make it myself now – if I could.
In Ohio, I developed a taste for Stouffer’s baked mac and cheese, but I liked it pretty burned. And Stouffer’s has different recipes depending on the region of the US you live in, did you know that? Ohio M&C is different than what ye get in Florida, for instance. I can’t seem to find a link to back that up, but it’s been about 10 years since I saw an article on it.
There seems to be a dearth of just plain ol’ elbow macaroni in Ireland. Perhaps a total lack of it. Never seen it once! I can get shells, etc., but that’s not the same.
Hence, my present. And my dilemma.
What if I like it? I’m not worried about not liking it. That seems pretty likely, with the 22 grams of carb and low fat and the fact it has mustard in it (shouldn’t read the ingredients). I’m just concerned that I might develop a taste for this tin of potential comfort food – especially as it looks to be only about six bites.
heretherebespiders 
Warning It’s tiny…a small step…luring you into who knows what….quick lunches?
My mom’s macaroni was in a thin white milky sauce covered with clumpy “cheddar” cheese….not so great. Then came cafeteria mac and cheese (scowling looks by mom, “why buy that junk when you are eating out?”) Then college years, no money, and Kraft Dinners -ahhhhh.
Didn’t know that about Stouffers’. Strange…you’d think marketing would have holiday wrapped variety packages of the regional offerings available for Christmas presents?
Waiting for review of the can goods.
I could try it tonight! Making a roast chicken and hubby is making DISGUSTING cauliflower for himself. I’d rather lick Neko’s butt. Okay that’s gross, but you know what I mean!
“I’d rather lick Neko’s butt”
If you do, be sure to take pictures!!! jk
Seriously, my two cents…some things should NOT come in cans and M&C is one of them. I will mail you some elbow pasta if ye like…any other food stuff you’re craving from the US I could throw in?
+1 for the pictures
You are so sweet! Thank you for the offer – but the cost to ship a pound of $1.50 macaroni would be over $20! My Scottish thriftiness cannot stand the idea of anyone paying that! X
Oh well, in this case it’s definitely the thought that counts.
And I do appreciate it!!! 💚
You can make your own mac and cheese with any kind of pasta, not just elbow. I use penne or small shell or any shape I have on hand.
The stuff in the jar probably had something in it to make it addictive….
Hi!
I know, it just doesn’t taste the same. Trying to recreate my childhood comfortfood and all, especially when so far from where I grew up!
I haven’t tried the stuff yet, might tonight. I’ve often wondered if Taco Bell uses subliminal advertising on the packaging or something – why else would anyone crave their food?
I think Taco Bell is like Kraft or what is in your jar: They add something so we will keep eating. Good luck with your taste test.
I wouldn’t eat anything from 1869 🙂
I’m not a fan of mac & cheese (we really only call it Kraft Dinner here, even if it’s a different brand or anything — yes yes, we pronounce it in English). My son made me eat some a few weeks ago. At the grocery, I asked what we should eat. He usually says he doesn’t know so I’m good to buy whatever I want, but I just learned he changed. Now I must not ask again. So we bought Kraft Dinner (some local brand of it). Wasn’t this bad. And I still remembered how to prepare it from college!
But… in a can, really? Hum… Let us know if you end up trying 🙂
Yes, I said Kraft Dinner just for you – Americans wouldn’t call it that. I didn’t know it applied to any box mac n cheese, though – sort of like how the Irish call every vacuum a Hoover and ever pen a Biro. I might give it a go tonight! Been holding off so I could take the picture and bitch about it first 🙂
We ride Ski-Doos, we put our food in the Frigidaire, we clean surfaces with Scott Towels, we wrap food in Seren Wrap, we connect computer networks with a Cisco… The list could go on and on… Don’t tell me that’s a cultural thing? Tell me everyone does that!
Sure, I think a lot of people do that! It seems to be different things in different cultures, however! This might be an interesting blog topic, actually…
As long as it says “macaroni” and “cheese” and not “macaroni product” or “cheese-like product”,lol
Ingredients are macaroni, water, skimmed milk, THEN cheese…a whole 3%. And 2% some unnamed low fat cheese…
But at least you can pronounce them right? lol
Toward the end of the list it has poly phosphates and sodium phosphates… “Stabilisers” Good god am I about to eat something that is potentially unstable?!? This is why I don’t eat much processed food…
You could go high end:
http://www.chow.com/recipes/11582-three-cheese-mac-and-cheese-with-panko-bread-crumb-topping
This is close to a triple cheese mac that a Twitter friend posted a while back.
Any convergence of cans and cheese is to be shunned, in my mind, but as Voltaire said, “Once is philosophy, twice is perversion.”
I’ve seen frozen poutine (google image “poutine”). Nothing impresses me anymore. (Though this one was removed from the market within weeks — no I didn’t try.)
Ewww! I’ve had an attempt at poutine here – none of the ingredients were right but it made me realise I would eat it if made properly.
I’d figure it would be hard to get the right cheese there. Raw cheese is illegal in a lot of places. It has to be eaten right after it’s prepared, you can’t leave the fries to soak in the sauce for long. If prepared well, it doesn’t even look bad. I think we have one meal planned for when you will come to visit 🙂
You do know that if I can’t find elbow macaroni, I’m never going to find Panko, Romano OR Asiago! It sounds lovely, but loses all comfort when it requires three pans to cook it. My cats wouldn’t lick any of that clean 🙂
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Don’t do it – anything with ‘low fat’ on the can should read ‘low expectations’. Nothing will match your stoved cooked, home made version.
I know! One day I’ll find elbows…
My secret shame…hubby goes away for work I hit the box od Deluxe Macaroni Cheese by Kraft…you know the tin of cheese that actually forms the same shape and heaviness in your stomach later! love it…he was geared up to go away for work and I was prepared until I got really sick..trip cancelled and Mac Cheese on hold..i agree though low fat low chance of joy 🙂
The one where the cheese is in a foil packet and you squeeze it out like orange toothpaste? That tastes better than the florescent-orange cheese powder version! Here’s the big question – do you eat the whole pot (or try to) in one sitting?
The one where the cheese is in a round can and it’s all solid…droollllll and I always say to myself get a grip that will do and no it never does and the whole damn lot goes..yes one sitting two serves hahahhaha and yuk hate the powder cheese…it lacks..body ..much like myself after a scoff session 😉
Haha! I’m afraid I’ve never seen your kind where the cheese is in a can! I occasionally get a Mac n Cheese gift in a care package, and YES! Whole thing, gone. Bad, bad us!
But good good taste hahaha 🙂
This is a serious come-down from the roast pork and salad!!!
That’s not maybe!
Oh WOW what a great discussion sparked by a cute little can. I wouldn’t eat it just so I could sit the can on the shelf. It’s adorable!
And I say Ziplock bags, Seran Wrap, Velco (yeah, that’s a brand name).
I once bought Miss Saige a package of ready to eat Mac&Cheese for toddlers just out of curiousity. I opened the package and instantly threw it in the trash. There is no way I was going to feed what I saw in there to my kid. I wouldn’t feed it pigs as slop. This is a kid that’s raised on home cooking and fresh veggies. She probably wouldn’t have eaten it anyways.
I think EVERYONE must say Velcro – who wants to say ‘hook and loop’?
I get the baby mac looked like what I had… details to follow…
I can post you the empty can if you want! Make a little flowerpot out of it 🙂
No idea Heinz had that! Never going to try anyway!