Tinfoil Chef

Macaroni and cheese is one of those long time standby dishes. It’s something that’s quick and easy to fix and it it also useful as a part of other recipes. Sometimes however for whatever reason you don’t want to or don’t have either the time or ingredients for something more extravagant, yet at the same time you don’t want just the plain mac & cheese.

Fortunately it’s easy to kick plain mac & cheese into something that people will think is a lot more involved but really doesn’t take more than a couple of extra minutes. Here’s a few examples.

1. Add Chili. One or two cups per box of macaroni and cheese will turn it into a quick chili mac. Just make the macaroni and cheese as usual and then when it’s done add the chili, stir it in and give it another minute or so of cooking time to heat the chili.

2. Add spices. This is so fast it isn’t funny. All you need is to sprinkle whatever spice you like into the finished mac and cheese and give it a stir. Possibilities are nearly as extensive as your spice collection. I will often add curry powder, chili powder, Italian seasoning, dill weed, garlic powder (or minced garlic!), paprika and several others either individually or in any combination.

3. Add tuna. For a quick “tuna casserole wannabe” add one 6 1/2oz can of tuna in water for each box of mac and cheese, stir it in and give it a minute or two of additional cooking time. If you like you can add to the casserole illusion by adding some mixed vegetables as well. Sprinkle some seasoned bread crumbs and / or grated Parmesan cheese on top and it’s complete.

4. Add hot dogs or Vienna sausages. Just cut up a few hot dogs or a can of Vienna sausages and add them in when the macaroni is within a minute of being done boiling.

5. Add some diced tomatoes.

What’s really cool about this is that you can easily combine any of these ideas to create your own unique dish. When it hits the table people will think you went all out creating something new when all you really did was start with a basic and kick it up a few notches.

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