a simple real food recipe :: quick real food mac-n-cheese

I’m not naive enough to think it wasn’t going to happen at some point.

Last week on our way home from preschool, my 3 ½ year old exclaims “Mama! Our teacher let us play in the kitchen today, and I made chicken stock for Max because he had a drippy nose, and he made me juice and mac and cheese! And Mama what’s Mac and Cheese?”

Oh the sweet innocence.

I’m all about the truth with my kids, so I told her what Max was probably talking about, and then Mama Bear came out.

I explained to her WHY we have never had that blue box in our house. I was honest. And she gets it. Why would anyone want to put yellow dyes in their body that can make you sick (behavior issues and cancer, but put in toddler terms). And why would anyone want to put GMO’s, super processed wheat, and other additives in their body that can make your tummy upset (these these over time cause stomach lining damage among other things…put in toddler terms = upset tummy).

BUT! Let’s try to make our own mac-n-cheese tomorrow I said. She loves helping me in the kitchen so it was a date.

Mac-n-cheese from the box involves no more than noodles, cheese, milk, and butter. I wasn’t trying to duplicate a super complicated “baked” macaroni and cheese. I was going for simple. Because the boxed mac-n-cheese is all about the convenient lunch, right?!  I nailed it on the first try – not rocket science.

Because it all actuality it really is just noodles, cheese, milk, and butter.

And…This. Was. Delicious. Just like I remembered it as a kid. I even busted out some powdered turmeric to make it bright yellow 😉

(By the way! I was very careful in my explanations with my daughter not to make Max look bad 😉 We talked about not being “food critics” but being smart about OUR food choices for US and that others may choose differently and that is ok for them!)

Kitchen Tips:

1. This made enough for the girls and I to have 2 lunches worth and a little left over. To be honest my youngest wasn’t a huge fan – she isn’t a big “noodle” person. We just don’t eat a ton of it.  She took a few bites and pushed it away asking for more broccoli instead. My 3 year old LOVED it! I thoroughly enjoyed my serving by the way 😉
2. To reheat leftovers, just heat on the stove with a couple splashes of milk or water to re-moisten. Do not microwave or you will ruin all the good nutrients in the real cream and cheese!
3. To pack up in a lunchbox, I would get it nice and hot in the morning and store it in a thermos with a couple extra splashes of cream, milk, or water to keep it moist – it does thicken a little because the noodles will soak in more moisture.
4. Boil your noodles in homemade chicken stock for more nourishment!
5. THIS is similar to the gluten free rice pasta I get at our local grocer – shop around – gluten free pretty easy to find these days. Just be sure to read the ingredients – no soy!
6. THIS is what turmeric looks like and THIS is a good natural food dye. Again – you may be able to find these cheaper in your health food store or local grocer.
7. Read THIS and THIS on why real wholesome animal fats like those in real cheese and cream are so nourishing.

YOUR TURN!

Let me know if it passes the kiddo test!

This post was shared at The Polikva Family’s Family Table Tuesday and Real Food Forager’s Fat Tuesday!