Shelf Stable Saturday and a Food Pantry Staple- Boxed Mac and Cheese

 

 

  I was raised by a single mom and Kraft mac and cheese was a huge part of our diet. Back then, generics came in black and white boxes, and they were sometimes really awful tasting. Box mix mac and cheese was no exception, so my mom would "splurge" on the Kraft brand, which was still way less expensive and easier than making mac and cheese from scratch. She was the master at turning a box into a main dish that we loved. Some of my favorite comfort foods start with a box of mac and cheese! Store brands have replaced those black and white boxes and have improved a lot in flavor, which is why I buy the cheap boxes from Save-a-lot. My favorite growing up was browned hamburger generously salt and peppered mixed with prepared mac and cheese, followed closely by sliced smoked sausage fried and stirred into a pot of freshly made Kraft dinner. I still fix both of these for my kids today and they are my ultimate comfort food. And of course she made the prerequisite tuna mac, which she topped with crushed potato chips but served the peas on the side.

   Whether you have a box or two of macaroni and cheese from a food pantry or you had it in the cabinet, boxed macaroni and cheese is a great comfort food that can be the base of a good meal. I usually buy the Save-a-lot brand that costs only 40 cents a box. It is the least expensive way I know to fill a cheesy craving. Gourmet it is not, but you can use the humble box of mac and cheese to flesh out a quick, easy, inexpensive meal.

  You can make a main course out of both fresh and shelf stable foods.  From your pantry you can stir in:

• Canned tuna or chicken (extra points for making the chicken buffalo flavored with a little butter and hot sauce)
• Baked beans ( my husband's favorite)
• Diced spam or canned ham
• Black beans, canned tomatoes and taco seasoning
• Bacon bits and dried chives (chicken is good with this too!)
• Canned chili

  From your fridge or freezer you can cook and stir in:

• Any leftover cooked meat, like diced cooked pork, ham or chicken
• Browned ground beef or left over taco meat or chili
  
• Frozen broccoli, peas or spinach
  
• Fried bacon and onions
• Sliced hot dogs or smoked sausage 

 Or, you can make those popular snacks, mac and cheese cups. All you do is mix one egg with a prepared box of mac and cheese, plop into a greased muffin tin and bake at 400 for 15 minutes. When they come out you can sprinkle with a little shredded cheddar or some bacon bits if you want. Box mix macaroni and cheese is such a versatile thing to use your SNAP or food dollars on.