Macaroni and cheese is one of my husbands favorite meals, and he often asks me to purchase those blue boxes of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese. Recently I decided to surprise him with a treat, and instead of his old stand by, I purchased a yellow box of Kraft Velveeta Shells & Cheese.
The 12 ounce box costs more than the blue box with the powdered cheese sauce, but then the Kraft Velveeta Shells & Cheese contains everything I need in one small box! My husband was used to making his macaroni and cheese by boiling the macaroni, then adding butter and milk before mixing in the powdered cheese sauce. The Velveeta variety doesn’t require that I add any of my own ingredients!
All that is needed is a pot of boiling water, 6 cups to be exact. The pasta is in the shape of mini shells, and after cooking them for 8-10 minutes they are drained and a pouch of Velveeta cheese sauce is then added. No more messing with a dry cheese mix (which my hubby always managed to spill on my counter and stove top!), and no fuss getting the cheese mix thoroughly blended into the macaroni. There’s even a handy recipe on the back of the yellow box for Cheeseburder Mac that is really tasty. It adds meat and vegetables to the meal, making it more a more rounded dinner. The sour cream, mustard, green onions and chopped tomato add a nice zest to the sauce.
Nutrition Facts
(Per 1 cup serving)
Calories: 360
Total fat: 12 grams
Saturated fat: 4 grams
Trans fat: 0 grams
Cholesterol: 20 mg
Sodium: 940 mg
Carbs: 49 grams
Fiber: 2 grams
Sugars: 4 grams
Protein: 13 grams
Vitamin A: 4%
Calcium: 20%
Vitamin C: 0%
Iron: 10%
The Verdict
Did my husband appreciate the fact that I spent a little more to buy him a more deluxe macaroni and cheese style dinner? In a word, yes. He isn’t the most accomplished chef in the world. His skills include making Hamburger Helper, tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches, and Macaroni & Cheese. He liked the idea of having a ready made creamy cheese sauce instead of a dry cheese sauce that needed milk and margarine to complete. The shells are a nice change, and the texture is very creamy. This is our new comfort food. My Grandmother used to make her macaroni & cheese from scratch, and I haven’t been able to duplicate her recipe. I probably never will. In the meantime, I’ll continue to spend a little bit more to get a complete mix. This would be great for packing in the motorhome, since we won’t have to add anything to it. Everythings right in the box.
We have the empty nest syndrome, and I find it difficult to cook for two people. This product is perfect since it makes three servings. Thanks Kraft!
