Recently, I’ve been attempting to try several of the ideas I’ve pinned on Pinterest. One of the pins I tried was awful. It was for a homemade microwaveable macaroni & cheese and it was bad. Very, very bad! I won’t link to the site because first of all, that’s not very nice and secondly, it’s a blog I greatly respect and would love to write for one day.
Here are a few reasons why I disliked the recipe:
- – It took as long to do in the microwave as it would have on the stove {15 minutes!}.
- – It required more work than it would have it I made it on the stove.
- – It constantly had to be watched to make sure it didn’t overflow and I used a bowl much bigger than the suggested mug.
- – There was no way you could serve that piping hot mug/bowl to a child. You would have to switch containers before serving.
- – The noodles never became tender.
A few days after I made this disappointing recipe, a new recipe dawned on me. Maybe ya’ll are smarter than me and already do this but I felt like a genius when I discovered it.
I had leftover spaghetti noodles in the fridge because I made too much the night before for spaghetti. I had planned on giving them to the dog a little at a time until they were gone. Poor dog never got any of them! I decided to try and microwave the cooked noodles with a little milk and cheese. It was yummy!
I used whatever cheese I had on hand and melted it with the noodles for 30 seconds and then added a splash of milk, stirred it, and added it for a few more seconds. It was so simple that I plan on doing it again! Next time I might use shells or elbow macaroni instead.
I know what everyone is shouting at me, “You still had to boil the noodles!” It’s true, I did but think how easy that would be to do the night before and make a quick and easy microwaveable meal for one or two people the next day!? Of course, the good old fashioned way on the stove works too but this is a good way to reuse leftovers or plan ahead for a quick lunch.
If you give this microwaveable macaroni & cheese a try please let me know what you think of it!
I have to admit that I’ve never tried making homemade mac in the microwave. I think you just made a believer out of me! 🙂
I’ve done that in the past too. It is a great way to use up extra noodles. 🙂
YUM! Cheesy noodles are sooo good. Another thing I’ve done with plain leftover noodles is make “Spaghetti pie”. You basically mix it with butter and cheese, put it in a pie dish and top with meat/spaghetti sauce/etc and bake in the oven. I <3 leftovers!
Pin fail? I love your idea, next time I make pasta, I will save some for micro mac & cheese. Sounds fabulous to me!
any way to make mac and cheese easier is great thing, thanks
My kids are strange and they don’t like Kraft Dinner or pasta even so I rarely make it. If they did this would be awesome though. I am going to attempt spagetti squash tonight and see if they like that.
Spaghetti squash? That sounds interesting!! I have left over squash so I may just have to look for a recipe for this. Thanks for the idea.
I’ve never actually made homemade mac n cheese, the stuff from the box i just so easy! But since I had my little guy and he started eating solids my thoughts on food have changed drastically. I know kids love the stuff in the blue box (I have my whole life!) but how much healthier it is to make it from wholesome ingredients. This actually sounds like a pretty easy way to do that! Thanks for sharing and btw hope your future attempts at Pins works out better!
Thank you for your comment. I can relate, I’m definitely thinking differently about the food I feed my family since my little one is now joining us at the table. I still have so much to learn!
OMG, pinterest failed? LOL! Good for you for rethinking of a way to not waste food. I make my m’n’c from scratch though and rarely use my microwave (getting rid of it when we move) as it depletes all nutrients from food. In fact, I replace pasta sometimes with squash/zucchini. I just use a potato peeler to get strips but I want one of those ribbon peelers to make them really look like pasta instead 🙂 Plan on giving away any of those soon? lol
Wow, what a neat idea! I would have never thought of that! I’m actually in search of a new mandolin for our family so maybe I should contact a company to review one and give one away? Hmm, I like that idea! Keep checking back. 🙂
Another pinterest failure story. haha But it’s always good to tweak it and make it right! RIght now we’re trying to take all red 40 out of our diets as my son has ADHD and is a bit crazy at times, hoping it will help a little!
I make a similar “alfredo sauce” on the microwave, just add a little more cream cheese and a tiny bit of milk and voila! easy lunch idea for my 2yr. cheese monster 🙂
Great use for leftover pasta! I always make too much spaghetti.
How simple! Might try it with my little guy 🙂
you dont give dog starch it can get them sick
That is a good idea, and thanks for including the pinterest fail. It’s nice to know I’m not the only one who ends up with some disasters trying to recreate pins.
I love homemade Mac & Cheese! Thanks for sharing your recipe, I cant wait to try it!
Yum! Thanks for sharing your improved Mac and Cheese recipe. It seems no matter what I make my daughter ALWAYS wants mac and cheese.