When you think of comfort food what comes to mind? Spaghetti and meatballs? Mashed potatoes and gravy? How about macaroni and cheese? Ah yes, the macaroni and cheese meal, or “mac and cheese” as it is lovingly called, was introduced in a box by Kraft in 1937. Since then, millions of those cheesy meals have been consumed in households across the country. Comfort food is associated with familiarity and sentimentality and this classic American dish provides that familiarity like an old fuzzy blanket.
There are a couple of stories that describe the origins of the American macaroni and cheese. According to food historian Clifford Wright, one involves a casserole at a church supper in New England and the other claims Thomas Jefferson came back with the dish after a trip to Italy. The second story seems more likely.
As a kid growing up in a household where every other meal was a home-cooked Korean dish, having a bowl of the Kraft Macaroni and Cheese was a real decadent treat. Now that I have a couple of tots of my own, I admit, I have turned to the iconic blue box to provide lunch every now and then. But now with the chill of autumn upon us and with a little more time on my hands, I turn to the following recipes when I want a pan of warm, ooey gooey, and hearty mac and cheese. The texture and consistency of the cheese, the ratio of pasta to cheese, and the addition of buttery bread crumb toppings in these recipes are, in my opinion, perfect.
Michael Jordan’s Steak House Macaroni and Three Cheeses
This recipe is used for the mac and cheese featured at Michael Jordan’s Steak House. There is a nice little kick from the mustard and the Worcestershire sauce. Don’t be turned off by the gorgonzola, the combination of the cheeses really work.
Barefoot Contessa’s Mac and Cheese
Ina Garten just knows what she’s doing. You can omit the tomatoes if you want to keep it purely mac and cheese.
This recipe is by the folks at America's Test Kitchen. It’s a lighter version of this classic dish, but definitely does not taste like it. Skip the last step of baking if you want to save some time making it an easy stovetop mac and cheese.
What’s your favorite mac and cheese recipe?
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