#17 Lord of the Blue Box, Volume 1!

Shownotes for #17 Lord of the Blue Box: Volume 1!

The music for the opening and ending of the show is Fast Food Rampage by the The Touch Ups, courtesy of the Podsafe Music Network.

Stuff you need to know for this show's recipe:

All the recipes here are an hour or less. Total preparation time for is less than 30 minutes.

Talk Back! We are a Snacking Community. Go to the End of these Shownotes and click on comments. Leave your thoughts and experiences. Or email me at [e-mail].

The podsafe music used in the show:

This week I feature the song Upside Down by Bob Gentry. A Detroit transplant now living in Hollywood, Bob Gentry has just recently released his 1st solo CD after branching out from his band Moisture. Check out his website to hear more of his music and check for club dates.

Here is the lead recipe I describe in the show:

You won't find any of these recipes on the back of the box. In all of them, you begin by cooking the macaroni in boiling water for the amount of time indicated on the box. You then combine it with the flavored milk, butter and cheese packet as directed. In some cases, I have change the proportions, so pay attention to the recipe.

Spicy Mac N' Cheese

This simply adds flavors to the existing flavor packet in the box.

1 box of macaroni and cheese
1/2 cups finely chopped onion
1 large garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoons minced pickled jalapeno chilies, to taste or 1 to 2 tablespoons of chipotle in adobo
Butter as indicated on the box
Milk as indicated on the box
1 or 2 stewed plum tomatoes, from a 28-ounce can, juice discarded and tomatoes chopped and drained well. Reserve the unused tomatoes for another dish.
1/4 cup fresh bread crumbs
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan (about 1/4 pound)

Prepare the macaroni. In a large heavy saucepan cook the onion, the garlic, the jalapenos, or chipotle in butter over moderately low heat, stirring, until the onion is softened, about ten minutes. Add the milk and bring the liquid to a boil and stir in the tomatoes. Add the flavor/cheese packet and Simmer the mixture for 2 minutes and salt and pepper to taste. Finally, stir in the cooked macaroni and serve.

Mac N' Cheese Carbonnara

1 box of macaroni and cheese
6 slices of bacon, fried crisp and chopped.
1 clove garlic, sliced
1 tbs of bacon drippings reserved
3 tbs bread crumbs
1 tbs fresh chopped parsley
salt and pepper to taste
2 fresh eggs
1/2 c. frozen peas
Fresh grated parmesan cheese

Fry the sliced garlic with the bacon over medium heat. Do not let the garlic burn. It helps if you add the garlic after you have turn the bacon the first time. After removing the bacon from the frying pan, remove all the drippings and put back on tablespoon. Leave the garlic in the frying pan. Combine bread crumbs and parsley in the frying pan and stir to combine with the drippings. If the mixture looks to dry, add a little more fat.

Prepare the macaroni and cheese according to the package directions, but keep a low flame under the cheese/milk mixture. Stir in the cheese flavor packet As soon as the macaroni has been added to the cheese/milk mixture, add the two eggs and stir until they are incorporated. They will continue to cook as you finish the dish. Stir in the chopped bacon and the breadcrumb mixture. Adjust the salt and pepper balance at this point. Then, stir in the frozen peas that have been defrosted by letting hot water run over them in a sieve or colander. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and serve immediately.

Southwestern Style Mac N' Cheese

1 box of macaroni and cheese
1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/2 c chopped onion
2 cloves of garlic, smashed and chopped
2 tbs olive oil
1/4 pound thickly sliced ham, chopped (about 1 cup)
1 teaspoon minced pickled jalapeno pepper (wear rubber gloves)
2 tbs chopped fresh cilantro
2 tbs butter
1/3 cup finely crushed taco chips

Prepare the macaroni from 1 box of macaroni and cheese, In a frying pan, sauté the chopped red and green pepper with chopped onion and garlic in 2 tbs olive oil. When these are softened, add the chopped cooked ham and the chopped pickled jalapeno. Melt the butter in a pan and add the crushed taco chips. Stir until they absorb the butter. In a pot, combine the milk and butter and heat until butter is melted. Stir in the cheese flavor packet. Keep the heat on low. As soon as the macaroni has been added to the cheese/milk mixture, stir in the pepper, onion and ham mixture, the cilantro and the taco chips. Serve.

Here are some additional recipes from the show :

If you want to make Macaroni and Cheese from scratch that has the same qualities of the boxed variety, here's a healthier and tastier way to do it. You can then use this as the base for any of the recipes I give you here.

1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 1/2 teaspoons dry mustard
2 1/4 cups whole milk
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter
2 1/4 cups (packed) grated sharp cheddar cheese (about 10 ounces)
8 ounces small elbow macaroni, freshly cooked

Topping:
4 tbs (1/2 stick) butter
3/4 cups fresh breadcrumbs made from 8 ounces trimmed sourdough bread

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 8 x 8 x 2-inch glass baking dish. Combine cornstarch, and 1 teaspoon dry mustard in heavy large saucepan. Gradually whisk in milk. Add 2 tablespoons butter. Whisk over medium-high heat until sauce thickens and boils, about 1 minute. Remove from heat. Add cheese and whisk until smooth. Mix in macaroni. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to prepared baking dish.

Melt remaining 4 tablespoons butter in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add breadcrumbs and stir until crumbs are crisp and golden, about 8 minutes. Sprinkle crumb mixture over macaroni and cheese. Bake until warmed through and bubbling at edges, about 30 minutes. Serve hot.

Here is the shopping list for next week:

Next week I'm going to tell you about how to make cool stuff with refrigerated biscuit dough. Here is the shopping list for next week: You need at least four cans of biscuit dough, any brand will do. You’ll also need some parmesan cheese and some cheddar cheese for grating. ground meat (your choice of beef, veal, lamb, turkey, seitan or grated tofu), a fresh or pickled jalapeno, fresh cilantro, a fresh lime, a bag of frozen diced mixed vegetables, a hard boiled egg, a few plum tomatoes from a can, some cumin, some coriander, and some turmeric, and if you want to cook for the roommates, you’ll need a package of hot dogs/tofu dogs or cooked breakfast link sausage and some mustard.

Here is a list equipment you will need for next week:

a rolling pin or wine bottle, a frying pan, two pots (one for cooking the pasta), a baking sheet, some parchment paper or quick release aluminum foil.