Macaroni and cheese with a breadcrumb topping.

Macaroni and cheese (sometimes referred to as macaroni cheese or mac 'n' cheese in parts of the U.S., Canada and the British Isles) is a common dish, similar to the British dish cauliflower cheese, whose main ingredients are cooked macaroni (often termed elbow macaroni in the US) and a cheese sauce. Cheddar cheese is the traditional choice (or cheddar-like processed cheese), but other cheese may be used. Similarly, other shapes of pasta can be used, though it may still be (technically incorrectly) called macaroni and cheese. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixels Full resolution (1704 × 2272 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixels Full resolution (1704 × 2272 pixel, file size: 1. ... Breadcrumbs or bread crumbs (regional variants: breading, crispies) are small particles of dry or very dry bread, which are used for breading foods, topping casseroles, stuffing poultry, thickening stews, and adding inexpensive bulk to meatloaves and similar dishes. ... The One With Mac and C.H.E.E.S.E is the 20th episode of Season 6 of the Television Situation Comedy Friends First aired: April 13, 2000 Spoiler warning: Plot Joey auditions for a part in a new sitcom Mac and CHEESE and receives a call-back, but... Example of cheese, seized by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. ... For other uses of terms redirecting here, see US (disambiguation), USA (disambiguation), and United States (disambiguation) Motto In God We Trust(since 1956) (From Many, One; Latin, traditional) Anthem The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City National language English (de facto)1 Demonym American... This article describes the archipelago in north-western Europe. ... Cauliflower cheese, sometimes called cauliflower and cheese, is a British dish, usually eaten as a main course for lunch or dinner, that is similar to macaroni cheese, though using cauliflower instead of macaroni. ... Penne, a very common kind of maccheroni in Italy. ... Elbow macaroni die, front view Back view Elbow macaroni is a term for pasta in the shape of a small tube curved into a semicircular shape. ... Cheese is a solid food made from the milk of cows, goats, sheep, and other mammals. ... Country of origin England Region, town Somerset, Cheddar Source of milk Cows, rarely Goats Pasteurised Frequently Texture hard/semi-hard Aging time 3-30 months depending on variety Certification West Country farmhouse Cheddar Only: PDO Cheddar cheese is a hard, pale yellow to orange, sharp-tasting cheese originally (and still... American process cheese Processed cheese, process cheese, or prepared cheese is a food product made from regular cheese and sometimes other unfermented dairy ingredients, plus emulsifiers, extra salt, food colorings and/or whey. ...

Packaged versions are available, consisting of boxed pasta and a cheese powder, to which is added butter and milk (or water). Extra ingredients, like ground beef, canned tuna, ketchup, sliced hot dogs, ham, bacon, peppers, tomatoes, and other vegetables are sometimes incorporated into the dish as well, though some might say that such recipes are no longer "macaroni and cheese." It is sometimes considered a "comfort food". For other uses, see Butter (disambiguation). ... A glass of cows milk. ... Impact from a water drop causes an upward rebound jet surrounded by circular capillary waves. ... Image:Minced beef USDA.jpg Minced beef in industrial grinder Ground beef, beef mince or hamburger meat, is a meat product, made of beef finely chopped by a meat grinder. ... For other uses, see Tuna (disambiguation). ... This article is about the condiment. ... A large hot dog with ketchup A hot dog is classified as a type of sausage or, alternatively, a sandwich on a suitably shaped bun with the sausage and condiments on it. ... This article is about the cut of meat. ... For other uses, see Bacon (disambiguation). ... Species C. annuum (incl. ... For other uses, see Tomato (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Vegetable (disambiguation). ... The term comfort food refers to a style of familiar, simple food or drink that is usually home-cooked, or consumed in informal restaurants. ...

Traditional cooking methods

The stovetop version utilizes heat from a stovetop to slowly melt the cheese in order to integrate with the cooked noodles. The sauce is ultimately made in the same pan with other ingredients mixed separately.

Kraft Macaroni & Cheese

Boxed versions (the stove top method) of the macaroni dish have been available since 1937 and are known for the rich yellow-orange color, resulting from the use of powdered "cheese sauce mix" rather than actual cheese. This color was memorialized by Crayola in 1993 when they added a "macaroni and cheese" crayon to their selection of colors available in the US. The color's name was chosen by young Jason Riggs, aged 6 at the time, after entering Crayola's annual contest. In Canada, boxed macaroni and cheese is commonly known as "Kraft Dinner" due to the preponderance there of the Kraft Foods product. Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2592 × 1944 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2592 × 1944 pixel, file size: 1. ... Kraft Dinner with veggie dogs. ... Gold is a shade of the color yellow closest to that of gold metal. ... Crayola logo 2002-present Crayola past logo, 1997-2002 Crayola is a brand of crayons and other writing and drawing utensils, such as markers, chalk, and colored pencils manufactured by Binney & Smith, Inc. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... For other uses, see Crayon (disambiguation). ... Kraft Dinner with veggie dogs. ... Kraft Foods Inc. ...

Anecdotally, macaroni and cheese was invented by Thomas Jefferson, who, in the variant told by Alton Brown of Good Eats, upon failing to receive an Italian pasta-making machine, designed his own machine, made the macaroni, and had the cook put liberal quantities of York cheddar and bake it as a casserole. Thomas Jefferson (13 April 1743 N.S.–4 July 1826) was the third President of the United States (1801–09), the principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1776), and one of the most influential Founding Fathers for his promotion of the ideals of Republicanism in the United States. ... Alton Brown (born on July 30, 1962 in Los Angeles, California, U.S.) is an American food personality, cinematographer, author, and actor. ... Good Eats is a television cooking show created and hosted by Alton Brown that airs in North America on Food Network. ...

Food writer Jeffrey Steingarten describes an 1802 recipe as the "very first recipe ever printed on the back of an American box".^[1] Not technically on a box, the recipe was still part of the packaging: it was printed on sheets of paper wrapped around bundles of dried vermicelli and macaroni produced in Philadelphia by one Lewis Fresnaye. The historic recipe: Jeffrey Steingarten is an American lawyer and food critic. ... This article is about the receptacle or vessel called a box. ... Vermicelli (Italian: ver-mih-CHEL-lee, lit. ... For other uses, see Philadelphia (disambiguation) and Philly. ...

Take six pints of water and boil it with a sufficiency of salt, when boiling, stir in one pound of paste [pasta], let it boil [about eight minutes], then strain the water well off, and put the paste in a large dish, mixing therewith six ounces of grated parmisan or other good cheese; then take four ounces of good butter and melt it well in a saucer or small pot, and pour it over the paste while both are still warm. It would be an improvement after all is done, to keep the dish a few minutes in a hot oven, till the butter and cheese have well penetrated the paste.
It may be rendered still more delicate by boiling the pasta in milk instead of water and put a little gravy of meat, or any other meat sauce thereon.^[2]

See also

• Kraft Dinner
• Nabisco
• Annie's Homegrown[1]

Kraft Dinner with veggie dogs. ... Nabisco logo Nabisco is an American manufacturer of cookies and snacks, including brands such as Chips Ahoy!, Fig Newtons, Mallomars, Oreos, Premium Crackers, Ritz Crackers, Teddy Grahams, Triscuits, Wheat Thins, and Chicken in a Biskit. ... Annies Homegrown is a company that sells quick and easy boxed additive-free and organic meals and snacks. ...

References

• Steingarten, Jeffrey (1997). The Man Who Ate Everything. New York: Vintage. ISBN 0-375-70202-4. The chapter, "Back of the Box", was first published in 1992.

External links

Wikibooks' Cookbook has more about this subject:

Macaroni & Cheese (Baked)

• Generic Macaroni and Cheese Box Gallery FAQ
• A brief history of mac and cheese, commentary on NPR's News & Notes program by Joseph C. Phillips, aired November 8, 2006 (retrieved Nov. 9, 2006)
• Curlypasta.co.uk - UK blog review of commercially available macaroni and cheese