Denise's "box inspired" mac and cheese is a big hit at parties and pairs nicely with my pork recipes!
The first recorded recipe for a dish similar to macaroni and cheese can be found in a 13th-century cookbook from Italy called "Liber de Coquina." This recipe involved boiling thin, tube-shaped pasta in water and layering it with grated cheese.
The modern version of macaroni and cheese, can be attributed to Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson encountered a pasta dish during his travels to Europe. He brought back a pasta machine from France to the United States. He then served a "macaroni pie" at a state dinner in 1802, using macaroni imported from Italy, and combined it with American cheese.
Macaroni and cheese became a popular food at the end of the Great Depression because it was cheap. In 1937, Kraft Foods introduced boxed macaroni and cheese at 19 cents for a meal that served four. They sold 8 million boxes in one year. The popularity of the food took off again during World War II because you could get two boxes for only one ration point!
Denise's cheesy mac tip:
Enhance your mac &
cheese and make it a meal!
Add vegetables like broccoli or spinach, sprinkle some
pulled pork on the
top, or add some crab meat!
Did you know?
The curved and tubular shape of elbow macaroni allows the smoked
cheese sauce to cling to the pasta, creating a satisfying bite
in every forkful.
Here are some regional styles of pork barbecue, including Carolina, Kansas City, Memphis, and Texas BBQ.
Pulled Pork • Pork Ribs • Pork Loin • Hot Dogs • More Coming Soon!