by G. Emma Ryder

Created on: August 09, 2009

Boxed macaroni and cheese is a staple in most households. But with a little imagination, you can BUMP it up a knotch.

Always cook your macaroni first and set it aside. Using the same pot that you used for the macaroni add the water and or milk, and the margarine. This is a good time to add extra cheese, you can add sandwich slices, an old piece of cheese that needs to be used. ( remember to cut off any mold or any off color on the cheese) or cream cheese ( any amount of cream cheese will add to the flavor) to your warming milk. Keep stirring your liquid. Add your macaroni after the extra cheeses have dissolved. Continue to stir. Serve.

Another recipe: Having set your macaroni aside. Add florets of broccoli to your milk mixture with the extra cheeses or not. Let the broccoli cook until it is a pretty spring green color, if you let it cook until it gets to a green bean color you let it cook too long. The broccoli will be mushy. After the mixture is warmed add the macaroni and serve. Instead of broccoli, you can use a can of drained green beans. But when you combine the macaroni, use a folding gesture to mix it together. The green beans will not come apart.

Another recipe: Having set your macaroni aside. Add a can of mushroom soup with 1/2 cup of milk, continue to stir to get the soup creamy. Then add a can of drained green beans use the same folding gesture to stir them together. As it heats up add the macaroni.

Another recipe: Having set your macaroni aside. Brown hamburger in the pan, keep stirring it. Don't let it get too brown or burnt. It will cook very quickly. Break into chunks as it cooks. Drain off the extra fat from the hamburger. Add milk and cheese, do not add margarine (there is enough left in the meat) after the hamburger is completely cooked. Add the macaroni and serve. You have a meal in a bowl.

Another recipe: Having set your macaroni aside. Add some chunks of ham in the pan warm the meat. Brown on a low heat. Add broccoli if you would like. Broccoli and ham are a good combination. Add a half of an onion cut into cubes for flavor. Cook together. Add milk and cheese keep stirring. Add the macroni after the broccoli turns spring green. This is another great meal in a bowl.

Hot dogs or sausage links are another great substitute, you can always add a can of whole or chopped tomatoes to your macroni with or without the cheese mixture. I don't add milk if a leave the cheese out. You can always stretch your recipe for extra guests if you use rice instead of macroni. In addition, there have been times when milk was in short supply. You can substitute powdered milk, canned milk, sour cream or coffee creamer (not the flavored creamer), each will give it a very nice flavor.

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