Hopping To It

I've really prided myself on the fact that every mac that I've reviewed I never had to buy more than the one container/serving/order of (hopefully) cheesy pasta.  All those frozen meals are individual purchases.  Same with all these just add water cups and bowls I've reviewed, only one container to purchase.  Restaurants won't only sell me two orders of mac n' cheese unless I'm crazy enough to order them so unless I'm making a big a big casserole dish of the stuff at home, I don't have to worry about lots of extras either.  In the end this means that I'm not saddling myself with multiples of a cruddy variety of mac. 

That is of the utmost importance with this blog.  While some would want to begin to hoard their favorite versions, I'm here to review them all (darn you 'gotta catch em all, Poke-Cheese' mentality), not stop at the best or give up on the worst.  In my regular wanderings looking for the next meal to add to the review pile, I have really only come upon a scant few macs that I consistently keep saying "Nope" to and that's exclusively because of quantity that I need to buy in order to review them.  Target has a whole grain pasta just add water cup that only comes in a four pack and Annie's Homegrown microwaveable options only are sold in 5 single servings boxes.  I don't know why I decided to pull the trigger, other than it was most likely the sale that Target going on at the time, but I broke down and bought two of the three options (the gluten free wasn't on sale and was much more expensive so behind it stayed).

While I've had Annie's very yummy Cheddar Bunnies a number of times, I have yet to try any of their many varieties of mac n' cheese.  Their just add water version is just as good as any to start with and since I've got a box of five to eat/give to others at work, I best get started.


The Review

Brand:
Annie's Homegrown Microwaveable Mac & Cheese with real white cheddar

Now the only REAL difference between white and yellow Cheddar is that there is a coloring agent annatto, used to give it the orange we're used to seeing today. The coloring doesn't affect the taste of the cheese, that all comes from the aging process.

Bringing Bacon Back

I've gotten to dig my fork into a fair number of mac n' cheese meals these last 10 months.  The one thing that at first thought didn't scare me a bit, but now scares me quite a lot is the addition of meat to a meal (that isn't a frozen meal).  My Archer Farms real bacon experience taught me that it's potentially a very dangerous thing. So much so that I think even Target/Archer Farms is having a difficult time with them because I've not seen those bacon carbonara bowls on shelves but for one or two days every few months at any local Target since I did my review.

Finding that another brand was giving bacon the ol' college try had me very cautious about the potential outcome.  Armed with a camera phone and their customer support 800 number I was ready to give Kraft's bacon bowl a shot.

The Review

Brand:
Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Homestyle Sharp Cheddar Cheese Sauce And Oscar Mayer Bacon

Big money, no moldy.... STOP!

Half The Cheese It Used To Be

Instant cups are a really easy on the fly meal snack for those craving some quick mac n' cheese.  One thing that we do have to worry about (well those of us who seem to eat mac n' cheese with wild abandon) is the caloric and fat intake that the cheesy goodness brings to our arteries and midsections.  A number of national cheese makers have begun making cheese using 2% milk rather than whole milk like cheese is normally made from.  While it cuts down on the fat, some of these 2% cheeses also seem to cut down on the taste.  While Velveeta isn't remotely close to a natural block of cheese, but that doesn't mean that they can't get in on the reduced fat craze.  Now all I'm left to wonder is if this reduced fat cheese affects the taste compared to it's high octane cousin. 


The Review

Brand:
Velveeta Shells & Cheese: 2% Milk Cheese

You don't look any thinner than a regular mac cup.

Homestyle To Go

Kraft is THE predominant mac n' cheese maker in the country.  They've got a massive line of macaroni and cheese products that just eats up the shelf space in your local grocer.  They've added a Homestyle line that gets cooked in the oven and I've been meaning to try since it debuted a few years back.  In the last few months Kraft has introduced a just add water version of their Homestyle line.  I know these won't be the same, but having heard good things about the standard line I was very excited to see these hit the shelves. 

The Review

Brand:
Kraft Homestyle Hearty Four Cheese

What's In A Name... Or How I Almost Got Food Poisoning

I've been noticing that there have been a good number of alternates to the classic mac n' cheese.  Homemade recipes and preparers of fine pre-packaged foods have snuck meats and other things into my mac meals.  I've already had a few and each one, be it Hamburger Helper, or Shells & Broccoli has added a little something to the dish (whether good or bad is part of what I'm trying to figure out on this here blg).  But I've begun questioning what should make sure that I'm reviewing for the blog.

What happens when it's a mac n' cheese, but doesn't say that it is by name?  I mean a mac n' cheese is a pretty simply defined meal... or so I thought.  Pasta and cheese/cheese sauce is the blueprint and when that extra veggie, chicken or other item makes it in you just roll with it.  In one of my recent Target trips (I seem to go there quite a bit, especially because one is across the street from work) I saw that they had a new just add water bowl and picking it up I discovered that the description on the front of the box was mac n' cheese (with bacon!), but the name was all 'fancy'.

I figured that this meal would be a good test.  If it stuck true to the mac, I'd have to scour my grocer's aisles even more than I already do and if it was anything but it, then I'd wait for the comment from a reader or friend to say you totally need to try this for the blog before I worried about another one. 

The Review

Brand:
Archer Farms Bacon Carbonara

Your fancy name doesn't dissuade me! I know what you really are underneath that fancy name... well at least I hope I know what you are.

Portable Green

Vegetables are good for you.  We all know this.  We also know that mac n' cheese doesn't pretend to that it's good for you.  Cheese and pasta?  Fat and carbs?  Good in moderation, but not something you should be eating all the time (well except me, I've made it a job of sorts).  I've had a pair of kids meals that come with veggies thanks to Kid Cuisine and Elmo as well as Helen's Kitchen which gave me broccoli and non-meat nuggets but I have yet to experience any that have come with veggies IN the mac n' cheese when all you need to do is add water.  Velveeta has conjured up a broccoli version for those health conscious mac n' cheesers.  Lets see if it's done any better than our other w/ veggies options.

The Review

Brand:
Velveeta Rotini & Cheese: Broccoli



Green means healthy!



Noodles With A Tan

I started this blog off with some simple just add water cup o' macs.  I've had 5 varieties sitting in my desk for almost two months just waiting for a chance to shine.  Running low on available frozen options at work (I've got 8 more sitting in the home freezer plus who knows how many more just waiting for me) I dug into my desk and pulled up one at random.  How did lunch go today?  Read on!


The Review

Brand:
Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Whole Grain Original Flavor

Silly Kraft cup!  You're not Annie's Homegrown mac n' cheese.  There are no bunnies here!

They Don't Just Make Cakes Anymore

It's been interesting seeing who's gotten into the mac n' cheese business.  So far, most of the pre-made or quick make options I've found have been made by companies that are known for cheese/dairy (Kraft) or for making meals, either in restaunts or as pre-cooked vareties.  I've only found a few special cases so far bucking that trend.  Nissin sneaking in with their ramen noodle mac and now Betty Crocker.  Betty Crocker at least here in the US is known for baked desserts.  They are one of the big brands that do cake/cupcake mixes and frostings. They don't really step too deep into other foods as far as I have ever seen... until now.

The Review

Brand:
Betty Crocker Bowl Appetit! Three-Cheese Rotini

This is the first wittily named brand I've had on this journey.  I approve food manufacturers.  Keep it up!

...And That's When He Finally Cracked

The original idea for this blog came to me about two years ago, when I had decided to make a quick mac n' cheese for lunch.  The meal required quite a bit of work to make and it had quite an interesting smell.  Two coworkers came in just as I started to make it and a conversation was struck about how that sure was an interesting smell and why in the blue blazes I was even eating it.  I of course had to chime up that I had other kinds at my desk and I figured it could be fun to try a few different kinds and that I never eat that stuff.  Soon after I had bought frozen ones and was trying all kinds.  By then I decided I should start a blog, bought a domain and then did nothing. For two years.  Well it's been two weeks and I've got friends looking for regional kinds, recipes being sent to me to try and a stash that will last me two weeks at my current stock of mac n' cheese.

Why bring this all up?  I had the meal that started it all for lunch today.  The meal that gave me the crazy idea to do this.  Here is it's review.

The Review

Brand:
Archer Farms Homestyle Five Cheese Macaroni Lunch Bowl

Mac-Suey!

In my preliminary hunting I've seen lots of the standard fare mac n' cheeses (well as standard as one can get when we're talking about something like just add water to noodles and cheese powder) and what's gotten me real excited is when I find those 'out there' meals. Meals that are strange flavors or ones by manufacturers who aren't known for making mac n' cheese.

The internet has allowed me to find all kinds of interesting potential meals, but seeing them in stores means that a store's buyer is brave (or demented) enough to bring these great choices the waiting American public.  My lunch today is just that.  A meal that has you saying WHO made that and why in the heck would anyone even buy it.

The Review

Brand:
Nissin's Chow Noodles Cheddar Cheese Flavor

Let's Raise A Cup... Part 2

I sure was surprised to see how many different kinds of these microwaveable cup mac n' cheese options there are.  At my local Safeway I had 5 Kraft/Velveeta meal varieties before I got into special noodle shapes like Sponge Bob, which added another two or three options (I thankfully passed on)!  I guess that shows how quick & easy meals like these are seen by parents as acceptable meal/snack options for the kids in the house.  As I said in a reply to a comment about yesterdays blog, these cups really don't serve as anything but a good emergency meal/snack for someone over the age of 12.  These should never be a primary mac n' cheese meal if you've got the means to cook something on a stove or some form of heating element.  Get that pot dirty, and just make one of the many kinds out there.  These cups just aren't meant to be a dinner.


The Review

Brand:
Kraft Macaroni & Cheese 'Triple Cheese'

Let's Raise A Cup... Part 1

Welcome to the first review of an actual mac n' cheese dish.  I'm sure that these will evolve over time as I realize that I wasn't thinking to include something as I complete these first reviews but I will try to make sure that the overall format stays the same.  Brand, Cost, Prep, Taste, Final Score.  For self prepared meals (stove top or microwave) I'll be sure to include the packaging preparation directions as well as any tips I discover that should be done to make it turn out better.  Unless something is just out and out wrong I will follow the directions on package to a T as to give all our subjects equal shakes based on what the brand says it should taste like.


Our mac n' cheese reviewed today is a daily meal snack of school and college kids across the country.  Almost instant mac n' cheese in a cup!  Kraft has their 'Easy Mac' line, and though this isn't quite that as today's meal is a Velveeta one (so it's cheese sauce and not a powder) it's in the same family as Kraft owns Velveeta.  If you've eaten the Easy Mac of years past, the stuff was just horrible.  I don't know what deal with the devil Kraft made, but this newer stuff is MILES better than Easy Mac of 6-8 years ago.  It's actually edible. 


The Review

Brand: 
Velveeta Shells & Cheese 'Original' flavor