Saturday, May 03, 2008

A Little Dose of Macaroni Healing


I got a little bruised this week. Nothing serious and it was probably my own fault. Sometimes the mouth and the brain just aren’t working together.

So as the weekend arrives and I’m searching for something more productive for the oral cavity to engage in, I stumble upon this curative recipe in The Gourmet Cookbook. It’s billed as “arguably the best mac and cheese on the planet.”


That sounds alarmingly like a controlled substance. Hey, I’m game. But, I don’t want to go on a bender or anything, so I parcel the recipe out into these fetching mini cast-iron casseroles.

The list of ingredients would give an internist the shakes – whole milk, cream, and about a pound of sharp cheddar cheese. Then there are the adventuresome flourishes, like red pepper flakes, a spoonful of Dijon mustard and a topping of crunchy, whole-wheat Panko bread crumbs. To hell with the diet. This isn’t about the body. We’re talking soul food, all the way.

Mary Poppins pushed "a spoonful of sugar" to help the medicine go down. I wonder if Mary ever tried macaroni and cheese? It’s a dose of miraculous healing, arriving piping hot to the table in a little fire-engine red package.


When Monday comes along, I’ll be ready.

©2008 T.W. Barritt All Rights Reserved

15 comments:

Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) said...

Next time, I'll join you -- macaroni therapy sounds like a great idea and the search for the perfect mac and cheese, like the search for the perfect pair of jeans, is a lifelong endeavor. PS -- I love the mini Dutch ovens, too.

Colette Burke said...

Don't be too hard on yourself,it probably was not as bad as you think, and will all be forgotten by Monday anyway.Maybe a tiny glass of red wine would help, and not constitute a bender.Colette.

Anonymous said...

Ah, I can almost taste that crackly crust! You are so right- nothing like mac and cheese to lift the spirit.

~~louise~~ said...

Mmm..what smells so good? Wait! it must be T.W.'s healing Mac 'n Cheese.

Thanks! I also needed a comfy post today...

Did someone say wine?

Anonymous said...

Def in the top 10 for comfort foods. Your mac n' cheese looks amazing, TW. btw..I like that intro site you've added :)

Kathy said...

Love those mini casseroles. I like the recipe suggestion of doubling the crunchy topping and making two smaller casseroles instead of a single larger one.

Cakespy said...

I like this macaroni therapy you speak of. Actually, I think that if more people would engage in this, we'd have less road rage in the world, and rage in general, because everyone would be walking around in a semi-comatose, happy, cheesey and carbohydratey haze. Ohhh yes.

Susan from Food Blogga said...

A pound of Cheddar? Holy Moly! No wonder why it's so fabulous. :)

The Old Foodie said...

The nutrition Nazis dont take into account that sometimes, you gotta have food that is good for the Soul (and to hell with what it may or may not do to the body).

Lidian said...

That looks like the perfect antidote to any stress in life...lovely. My mother made a wonderful M & C, how I wish I had her recipe.

Veron said...

Mac and cheese is one of the ultimate comfort food.Hope you feel better next week.

T.W. Barritt at Culinary Types said...

Lydia - I've never found the perfect pair of jeans, probably because of my fixation with macaroni ...

Colette - Did somebody say red wine? What a wonderful pairing with mac and cheese!

Nupur - I've been a fan since I was little.

Louise - Yes, wine!

Maryann - Thanks so much - I put mac and cheese at Number One!

Kathy - I thought it was so funny that the recipe from 1998 makes Panko bread crumbs sound like an exotic ingredient!

Hi Cakespy - My goal is to live the rest of my life in that happy, cheesey, carbohydratey haze!

Susan - an ounce of cheddar is worth a pound of cure, so I'm a rich man!

Lidian - my stress has been far lower this week!

Hi Veron - Healing as we go - the leftovers help!

T.W. Barritt at Culinary Types said...

Hi Janet - I would testify under oath that macaroni and cheese is far more nutritious to body and soul than lettuce!!

Rochelle R. said...

There is nothing like some good ole comfort food to make you feel better. The casserole is really cute. My grandma had a full size one like it, too bad I didn't inherit it.

Brilynn said...

I love your little casseroles and it's true, there's nothing like mac and cheese to soothe the soul.