I love annie’s mac and cheese, but I always like to add a little bit more to it and spruce it up. I like things with contrasting flavors, colors, textures, so just having a plain bowl of mac and cheese just doesn’t do it for me. I want more adventure! So I like to add just a few things to change it up a bit. When I make popcorn, I have to mix some cereal or chocolate chips in it because I can’t have just popcorn. When I eat cereal I have to have about 4 different kinds all mixed in, because I can’t just eat one kind. So weird!
Usually I make things from scratch and always despise making things out of a box or freezer bag. My dear mother used to love making those hamburger and tuna helpers, and I absolutely despised it as I got older! She always tried to fit in in there somewhere. Maybe that is where I get my culinary inspiration from? No one in my immediate family enjoys cooking that much, except my great grandmother (she passed away when I was 3, so sad we didn’t get to cook together) and grandmother on my mom’s side. Isn’t that funny?
But, oh when i was younger my grandma used to make me Velveeta brand mac and cheese, and oh how I loved the salty, creamy goodness of it! She probably put extra butter in it too, oh grandma and her butter. She would make me peaches and cream too with the real stuff, yes whole milk, chopped peaches and sugar! It was so good though. I used to also love those Little Debbie nutty bars. I think I’ve had a love affair with peanut butter from birth! It’s crazy the junk food kids love and are attracted to these days with great media tactics.
Here are some previous attempts at sprucing up Annie:
Tonight here’s what I came up with:
I added chopped shallot, garlic, a few mushrooms, leftover corn, 1 zucchini, 1/2 bell pepper, 1 small head broccoli and tofu and sautéed it until golden. I also like to add about 1/4 cup each of non-fat milk and greek yogurt to it for its tang and creaminess, along with herbed goat cheese, a little fontina (leftovers from the peppers), parmesan and all-purpose seasoning. It was delish! Next time I think I’m going to add some chipotle chilis in adobo and black beans for a Mexican twist? Or caprese mac and cheese? mmm . . . endless possibilities!
Mac and Cheese tower . . .
