Life Essentials: How to cook a box of maccaroni and cheese
posted on: 2004-08-04 13:36
Here are easy, complete directions on how you can prepare a box of maccaroni & cheese. Just follow these directions, and you will have dinner for two in no time!
These directions are meant to support those included on the box you purchase. If any of the measurements on the box differ from mine, feel free to follow those directions, not mine.
OK! Are you ready to start cooking?
Here are the five major steps required to prepare a box of Maccaroni and Cheese. I will break these down into steps for you to follow:
1. Gather utensils
2. Gather ingredients
3. Cook the noodles
4. Combine with cheese sauce
1. Gathering utensils:
The first step to making M&C (maccaroni & cheese) from a box is to make sure you have all the correct utensils to prepare your food. Measuring cups, pans, and something to stir with are all necessary tools for making M&C.
Here’s a short list of all the things you will need:
Utensils:
1. 1 cup and 1/4 cup standard kitchen measuring cups
2. 1/4 teaspoon measuring spoon
3. 1 pot/pan, about four inches deep, with lid
4. A kitchen fork and a large mixing spoon (tablespoon or larger)
5. A large pot-sized kitchen strainer
Get these together, and you are ready to get your ingredients:
2. Gathering ingredients:
Ingredients:
1. One box of maccaroni & cheese (noodles and package of cheese sauce powder)
2. 1/4 cup of Milk
3. 1/4 cup of butter (1/2 of a stick)
4. Four cups of water (measure out into pan)
5. (Optional) dash of pepper to taste
Why pepper? Pepper helps to bring out the flavor of the cheese better. You may add it later if you desire.
Make sure you have all you need from the first two steps before you try to prepare the maccaroni. It is best to have all this ready before the actual cooking begins.
3. Cook the noodles:
Now that you have all of your things, we can start cooking the meal. Here are your next steps to complete:
1. Pour four cups of water into your pan, then put on the lid.
2. Turn on your stove burner to medium-high heat (electric this would be about 7 or 8; For gas, use about a one inch flame)
3. Put the pot on the stove to heat until water is vigorously boiling (dime sized bubbles).
4. Turn the heat of the stove down to medium(4 or 5 on electric; half inch flame for gas), and remove the lid.
Your noodles are now ready to be put in the water to cook.
5. Pour the maccaroni into the water, stirring vigorously with fork once to prevent sticking to bottom. Stir again every five minutes until done.
6. You will have to wait about 10-15 minutes for the noodles to cook.
7. When it gets close to the end of your cooking time, you will need to test the noodles to see if they are done. This is accomplished by pulling a noodle out of the pot with your fork, then chewing on it. If it is soft and tender, they are done, and remove from heat. If it is still a little chewy, let them cook again for about two minutes. Repeat this step until the noodles are the desired texture.
8. After the noodles are done, you can turn off the stove. Strain the noodles over a sink until all the water is removed. Then return the noodles to your pan on a hot-pad.
You have succeeded in cooking your pot of noodles! Now all you have left to do is add the cheese!
4. Combine with cheese sauce:
Here are the final directions to making your maccaroni and cheese. Many people have different ways of doing these steps, but I have chosen the most efficient steps for you.
1. Pour the milk and butter over the noodles. If butter is still in a stick, melt it by sweeping it through the hot maccaroni.
2. Empty the contents of your cheese packet into the same pot.
3. (Optional) Add a dash of pepper into the pot.
4. Sir the mixture gently with a large spoon or with fork until butter is disolved, and there are no chunks of dry cheese powder left to be disolved.
SUCCESS!!!! If you have completed all of the above steps, you will now have a perfect addition for your dinner meal! Enjoy!
