For any of you that knew my sister and I when we were children, you know that we ate the same 5 things on a consistent, rotational basis:
1. Grilled cheese sandwiches
2. Peanut Butter Sandwiches
3. Fettucine Alfredo
4. Kraft Macaroni and Cheese
5. Rice
I AM NOT EXAGGERATING. Ask anyone that knew us. These were our 5 food groups. We were picky eaters and my mom figured that we needed to eat somehow and so this is what we ended up with.
Out of the 5 listed above, the Kraft Macaroni and Cheese ruled them all. It was our favorite and the most frequent of our meals. It was practically a member of the family. When Mom would make it, she sang a song to the tune of "Happy Birthday" that went a little something like this:
Maca-roo-roo to you
Maca-roo-roo to you
Maca-roo-roo to Jennfer....
Maca-roo-roo to you
I learned to make it for myself at an early age. (The trick is to not put in as much milk as the box instructs. Less milk = Cheesier).
I made Mac & Cheese for myself throughout highschool and college. I made it for lunch. I made it for dinner. I made it for a late night snack. Kraft Macaroni and Cheese is as much a part of me as Diet Coke.
Due to this personal history, when I married Grant, the only thing I knew how to make was Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. That was it. That was my one thing I could make on a stove.
Imagine my surprise when Grant informed me that, while he very much liked Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, he saw it more as a side item and not as an entire meal.
We then had a very long discussion about the fact that the box says "MACARONI AND CHEESE DINNER" and therefore by definition is indeed a DINNER but he disagreed.
Over time, I decided to be a big girl and I slowly phased the Kraft Macaroni and Cheese out of my rotation. I've longed for the day when I could have children and give it to them always.
Well, last night was steak night at our house. Grant was to make the steak, I was to make the sides. My intention was to make steamed broccoli and carrots and mashed red potatoes. Grant felt like the mashed potatoes would take too long and asked if there was another option.
I looked in the pantry. There it was. My Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. My old friend.
"There's Macaroni", I said to Grant.
"That's fine" he replied.
"REALLY?!?!?" I said with glee.
"Yeah, it's fine", he confirmed.
I DID THE HAPPY DANCE.
As I made the macaroni and cheese, I sang a song at the top of my lungs...
Maca-roo-roo to you
Maca-roo-roo to you
Maca-roo-roo Grant and Jennifer....
Maca-roo-roo to you!!
As we sat down to eat our meal, we both took a bite and I started bouncing on the couch.
"Grant this is SO GOOD. OH MY GOSH. This is SO GOOD. This is better than ANYTHING I have made in YEARS. OH MY GOSH. You have to admit, this is SOOOOOO goood RIGHT?!?!?"
Hi smiled at said "I'm not gonna lie, it's really good"
"RIGHT?!?!?!?!"
"But this is not an everyday thing now"
"I know... but it's been a really great night".
Best dinner ever.
it is so good it isn't even funny. seriously. good enough to go ask the neighbor boy to lift the heavy pot and strain it for us if mom wasn't home.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was growing up, mac and cheese most definitely qualified as dinner!
ReplyDeleteI eat about 3/4 of a box for dinner every time Rett won't be home to eat with me. I'm am very much in the mood for it right now. One time my mom was making it and while straining she dumped all the noodles down the drain. I cried.
ReplyDeletedid you see the new spokesperson for mac n cheese- awesome, crazy story! btw, the blue box is totally a complete dinner!
ReplyDeletei'm dying laughing at your sister's comment.
ReplyDeleteour marriage is opposite from yours:
mac&chee is actually the husband's go-to meal when i'm not home.
the other three people in my family would eat it every meal. i on the other hand prefer cereal every meal.