Gourmet Mac & Cheese

The variations described below are very rich and high-calorie. I don't recommend it if you're dieting, and you certainly shouldn't eat this way on a regular basis.

Most of the guys I know, myself included, are pretty good cooks. Some are even professionals. But it's a known fact that if it weren't for fast food places, many men would starve. And then those who keep girlfriends (or wives!) just so they'll have someone to feed them. This hub offers simple, cheap ideas for making some very tasty meals. Hopefully this will spark interest for further ventures into the culinary world... and a bit more self-sufficiency.

I love those meal-in-a-box pasta & sauce dishes. Macaroni & Cheese and all those Helper meals: Hamburger, Tuna, Chicken. But the instructions on the box should read: "Here's the basics, do with it what you will," because if you make those meals following the directions, it's typically pretty bland.

A pasta & sauce dish is something you can be creative with and add almost anything to. Evaporated milk or half & half instead of regular milk will make a cheese sauce richer and creamier. Spices such as sweet basil and thyme will enhance the flavor. And the last thing you want to do is over cook the pasta. If the instructions say, for example, "boil 12 to 14 minutes" always go with the lower number.

A good way to season pasta is to add your spices and seasonings to the water while it's boiling, along with a tiny bit of oil so it doesn't stick together. And, if you're adding a frozen veggie (canned vegetables are too mushy and don't have much in the way of nutrients), add it to the boiling water for the same length of time as your pasta.

When I make Hamburger Helper, I substitute hamburger with sweet (or spicy, if you like it hot) Italian sausage. While it's simmering, I add frozen sweet baby peas, thyme, lemon pepper, a couple slices of cheese - usually Velveeta and Havarti Dill, about a tablespoon of sour cream and a little extra virgin olive oil. If you're a fan of cheese dishes, you'll love this. This same recipe (with or without meat or tuna) works great with Macaroni & Cheese.

Obviously, this is a very rich, high calorie dish. I don't recommend it if you're dieting.

Right about now, you might be wondering, "Do I even need the box?" No, not really. But I like the added flavor I get with those packets that come in the box.

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