“Oh my god,” you’re thinking. “Is she seriously blogging about boxed mac and cheese? This is just getting pathetic.” Ok, yes, I am seriously blogging about boxed mac and cheese because, frankly, I’m kind of addicted to it. It is the one processed food product that I can’t give up (well, that and Cheez-Its. Are we sensing a theme?). While the boxed mac and cheese isn’t quite the dietary staple for me that it was about four or five years ago, I still feel the need for it once every month or two. And I still usually make it the same way my mom did when I was growing up: with a can of tuna mixed in.
I can hear some of you now: “Oh man, it’s not bad enough that she’s talking about powdered cheese products, but mixing TUNA in there, too? Gross!” I’ve had many a friend tell me they thought my favorite comfort food meal was an abomination, but I just say they haven’t seen the light. And hey, at least my tastes have evolved somewhat. I avoid the flavorless orange Kraft stuff these days in favor of Annie’s, and I usually make it with cream instead of milk, because I’m crazy like that.
The reason I decided that I needed to share my mac and cheese obsession with all of you, thus revealing myself to be something of a hypocrite about all my whole-foods-natural-cooking-from-scratch stuff, is that I have discovered a new favorite mac and cheese add-in that might just surpass tuna as a favorite way to fancy up my comfort food: Ro-tel.
You notice I said fancy up? I am clearly delusional about what “fancy” means, as I’m sure many would consider a can of Ro-tel about as far from fancy as one could possibly get. And let’s not even talk about the canned tuna or the chili mac made with Hormel.
So, Ro-tel might be the opposite of fancy, but it made my mac and cheese amazing yesterday, and I’m a convert. That and a teaspoon or so of cumin mixed into the cheese sauce and you almost have yourself a presentable meal. And yeah, you could probably make it from scratch with some expensive cheddar cheese and breadcrumbs and jalapenos and fresh chopped tomatoes, but somehow, I just think it wouldn’t be the same.
This post is especially dedicated to Miss Crystal, who is sadly living in a world where there is neither mac and cheese nor Ro-tel. I’m sorry my dear. All the jamon in the world can’t make up for that. But at least you have something to make America look appealing again, right?
(PS – The total soft focus glamour shot of the mac and cheese was unintentional, but seemingly so right.)
UPDATE: Too many of you folks have confessed to a lack of knowledge about the glorious Tex-Mex food product that is Ro-tel. Don’t worry, I’m here to help.
Head to the ethnic food section of your nearest supermarket (well, not you Crystal. Do they even have supermarkets in Spain?), and find the can pictured above. It will light up your life. It will instantly Tex-Mexify anything you choose to add it to. Your life will never be the same.