Thinking outside the box when cooking Kraft Dinner?
 

Hey, we all know that you can get a box of this stuff for dirt cheap in the stores. Or even knock of 20 cents and get the cheap no-name brand.
But when the money isn't flowing the finest, we all know this stuff does the charm.

I enjoy adding a couple minced cloves of garlic and grated cheese to my macaroni.

Does anybody know any great recipes with using this stuff and the powdered cheese as the base?

A can of chunk chicken meat. mmmmmm...

Basil, oregano, and high-quality mustard.

My Mom used to add creamed corn to spiral KD. It was actually pretty good.

KD is really expensive here... about S$5 for a box. It's insane.

This is really nothing special, and I'm sure pretty much everyone has done this... or at least it seems that way... but just in case someone hasn't done or heard of this, boiled hot dogs go quite well with macaroni & cheese.

I add sliced pepperoni. Mmmmm pepperoni mac.

This is the standard at our house. To not have hot dogs is odd.

I don't know if you can get it in the US but President's Choice white chedder macaroni and cheese is the BEST! I just can't eat that skinny noodled, orange KD anymore.

some ground beef... it was a boy scout staple when camping

I 2nd the ground beef and the hot dogs, I also do tuna sometimes

I just like mine dressed up with a little fresh ground black pepper and Johnny's seasoning salt. No meat products necessary. And it has to be original KD. I don't like generic brands, and I would prefer not to eat that Annie's Organic mac and cheese--it isn't salty enough.

trust me on the white chedder president's choice... try it once and you won't go back. It's not your average no name brand. This is premium stuff.

Unfortunately, the stores in the PacNW that did carry PC stopped carrying it in favor of their own store brands. Occasionally, some of the grocery stores near the border carry it, so I'll have to check next time I'm up there.

In college we would cook up 2 boxes of it, mix it with two cans of Cream of Chicken soup (straight from the can, don't add water) and throw in a few chicken breasts (already cooked)... then put it in a 9x13 glass dish and bake for around 15 minutes. It is awesome.

- Salmon, onions, garlic, and paprika.
- Roast chicken, green beans, and chinese friend noodles
- Turkey, stuffing, and peas (thanksgiving!)
- Throw it on a burger

broccoli add some cream of broccoli soup for more flavor
Chorizo sausage
whatever left over meat happened to be in the fridge

A can of tuna
An 8 oz can of tomato sauce
An 8 oz can of sliced mushrooms

I actually got it off the side of a KD box many years ago.

Sandra Lee on the food network once took the powdered cheese, mixed it in with something creamy, can't remember what it was, but don't think it was cream cheese, then spread it over an ear of corn. Left the husks on, then grilled the corn. Looked pretty damn good.

Annie's Naturals has just duplicated the classic Kraft Dinner with their "blue box":
http://img488.imageshack.us/img488/4900/classicxi3.jpg

It tastes just about the same, except that you can actually get the noodles cooked so that they aren't mushy, which I can't accomplish with the Kraft original version. And you can buy a 15-pack of Annie's at Costco.

We usually have ours with kielbasa, which we call Moon Bites for our son (cut into half-circles).

We have added hot dogs and tuna (not at the same time :D ). I want to try it with ground beef some day. But I am usually making a Kraft dinner when I don't really feel like cooking. My kids don't like anything added to it (they will learn, in time).

my wife swears by Mac and Cheez with canned baked beans on top. ( usually Bush's Homestyle )

Annies White Cheddar mac and cheese is as good as it gets.

I will have to try the kielbasa one, that's right up my alley!

Bacon. Everything is better with bacon.

mmmm...upscale it and make it high brow...

proscuitto

I'll have to try some of those. I usually toss in a can of Puratin Irish Stew, Chef Boy Ardee(sp?) Ravioli or chilli. It really fills the empty, growling hole.

All this talk about mac and cheese and now I have a massive craving. I am going to have to get some of this stuff imported.

http://image.presidentschoice.ca/pre...d=239&cvt=jpeg

Add chopped tomatoes, green onion, real bacon bits, and fresh ground pepper.

Get a small already made pizza crust. Place the cooked mac and cheese on half of the crust. Place in whatever other items you would like... fold in half and seal it. Bake for whatever time you think would be good.

While working at a pizza place here (Old Chicago) we would do this all the time.

Mac and Cheese Calzone.

my 3 yr old and i are frequent eaters of

annies white cheddar shells with peas

directions call for cooking the pasta for 8 minutes.
i throw some frozen peas into the boiling water
with the pasta at the half way mark (4 minutes, math whiz!).
yes, the water temp will decrease drastically,
so be sure to test one or two when time is up
before you dump the water out.

the peas end up nestled perfectly inside the shells.
you've never seen a kid eat so many peas so fast.

Every once in a while when I'm in full on bachelor cooking mode I'll make up a box of mac and cheese and mix in a can of chili.

It sounds like the ultimate in PMS food. Throw in some hot dogs or soy pups and I'm sold.

I am surprised everyone here buys KD, or the no name brand stuff. By far the best value and taste is to make your own KD. Go to the bulk barn and get some powdered cheese your fav type, pick up your fav noodle at the store and enjoy.

lay out one 1lb pound package of thick cut bacon on a cookie sheet and bake in the oven until crisp (crucial). drain on paper towels.
make 2 boxes kraft dinner as per the box instructions.
drain one can of italian style stewed tomatoes. cut into bite sized chunks if not already that size.
crumble bacon.
mix all ingred. together with 2/3 of a 16 oz bag of shredded cheddar cheese.
dump into pyrex baking dish, and top with remaining cheese, a drizzle of olive oil and a couple pinches of seasoned italian breadcrumbs.

bake in 350F oven until browned on top.

*note*
I personally hate this, but my entire family adores it, and my sister makes it for every family picnic we have, but stops after mixing in the shredded cheese and serves it like you would a pasta salad - cold - which is one of my brother in law's favorite things to take to work for lunch. (gag).