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The Ten Most Recent Comments By vineofivy

From Required Eating

Kraft Launches New Lazy People Food

Gums are carbohydrates. That said, I hate that we're becoming so lazy as country. Really? You can't open the box of granola and put a little bit in a reusable container? We're all going to be fat, sitting on top of little piles of 100-calorie pack wrappers in 10 years...

From Required Eating

What's the Best Mac and Cheese Cheese?

Cheddar, Mozzarella, Parmesan, and two slices of American cheese, melted into a bechamel - the perfect Mac and Cheese Mornay sauce!

From Required Eating

If We Eat Less Meat, Can We Save the Planet and Ourselves?

I completely agree with Michael Pollan here, we all need to eat less meat, for our own health and the health of the planet, but I think the larger issues, not addressed here, are the fast food companies and their use of meat products. If we all bought one less pound of ground beef a week, or at least purchased organic, grass-fed beef from a local farm, clearly the impact of meat productions on the environment would be lessened. But we still have the issue of McDonalds, Burger King, etc., using "industrially" produced meat and, until companies like these change their practices, I don't feel a true improvement can be made. Bear in mind, I'm not against fast food, I've been known to eat a double cheeseburger on occasion. I just feel these companies can do a whole world of good by acknowledging the faults of the meat industry and really advocating change. Imagine what would happen if each franchise sourced beef and chicken from local farmers. Even better if the prices increased as a result, maybe people would buy raw ingredients more often and cook food for themselves.

From Required Eating

Cook the Book: 'Think Like a Chef'

Braising - especially with wine!

From Required Eating

Seriously Delicious Holiday Giveaway: Bacon of the Month Club

Crispy, definitely, then crumbled over roasted Brussels sprouts!

Responses to Comments by vineofivy

From Required Eating

Kraft Launches New Lazy People Food

Eeeeww... artificial wipped(whipping) cream could never meet the flavour-expectation of the REAL home-made stuff! The packaging is pretty cool though!

From Required Eating

What's the Best Mac and Cheese Cheese?

I'm in the predominately cheddar group w/ the rest being whatever I have on hand,including cream cheese. I'm in the bacon camp and I also like diced onion or jalepeno,cherry or grape tomatoes.The topping?I've hit on the devilish combo of 1/2 breadcumbs,1/2 CHEEZ-ITS ground up together in the food proceesor.And yes they're buttered.I dont make this too often since it can kill you.

From Required Eating

What's the Best Mac and Cheese Cheese?

I have a version that uses raclette, along with the classic items of pickled onion, dill pickle, and a little diced potatoe. Try it.

From Required Eating

What's the Best Mac and Cheese Cheese?

My MIL's mac and cheese - no bechamel saucing required (she can't cook otherwise, but this is to die for):

1. Butter a casserole dish (I use a square 2-quart Corningware dish)
2. Boil 2 cups macaroni (I like Barilla elbows because they have ridges)
3. Drain, do not rinse
4. Layer half the macaroni in the casserole, sprinkle with 1 cup shredded cheese. (I usually end up using Kraft or Kroger pre-shredded cheese but obviously it's better with better cheese. Sharp cheddar is my personal choice.)
5. Repeat layers.
6. Mix together (a 2-cup Pyrex measuring cup works well) 1 cup milk and 2 eggs. (My MIL's original directions also say that you can use evaporated milk to make it even richer, but I think that's sort of overkill. My husband tried to use Redi-Whip once...the results are better not described.)
7. Pour egg mixture over macaroni and cheese layers in casserole.
8. Sprinkle a little more cheese over the top. (I've never tried it with crumbs.)
9. Bake UNCOVERED at 325 for about 20 minutes.
10. Let stand for 5-10 minutes to set before serving.

Serves 4-6 as a main dish, maybe more as a side dish, but probably not more than 8 as written. If there's any left, it's as good if not better reheated in the microwave. Also very forgiving of the addition of diced ham, sliced hotdogs, vegetables, etc. Quick and so easy I have it memorized...great for busy weeknights.

From Required Eating

What's the Best Mac and Cheese Cheese?

Macaroni and cheese is one of my all time favorites and something I would have to eat if I had 10 minutes or less to live. I've used numerous recipes, but always go back to my own version, which is a combination of recipes by Ina Garten, Martha Stewart, The New York Times, Cooks Illustrated and "ME". Cheese wise it's a combination of Extra Sharp Cheddar, Gruyere, Smoked Gouda, Fontina and Parmesan Reggiano. Sometimes I add in Canadian bacon, prosciutto or roasted red peppers for variety. In the end, it's all about comfort and "that specific person, place or thing" associated with this wonderful classic.

From Required Eating

What's the Best Mac and Cheese Cheese?

best home made:
Light Cream, ( not Heavy, not Medium, not Half & Half )
while heating, whipping in coarsly grated 5 year old imported Holland Gouda ( $ 7.95 at Sams ), a bit of white Pepper, no salt needed, bits of sauteed Prosciutto, and then the al Dente cooked Ziti, all in buttered casserole topped with grated Tete de Moine 450F oven til brown

From Required Eating

What's the Best Mac and Cheese Cheese?

I've been using the Creamy Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese recipe from Cooking Light. It uses light cheddar and reduced fat cream cheese in a milk and flour slurry (instead of a roux based bechamel). It is surprisingly good, despite the "light" cheeses.

For baked mac and cheese I really like Giada's Baked Rigatoni with Fontina and Prosciutto . It's bechamel based and you can pretty easily swap in whatever cheeses and meats you like. I've had a lot of success using Havarti, actually.

From Required Eating

What's the Best Mac and Cheese Cheese?

I know I'm late to chime in, but I just gotta say:
There's a great substitute for Velveeta which my wife calls "Chernoble cheese".
Merkt's port wine cheddar.

From Required Eating

What's the Best Mac and Cheese Cheese?

My favorite combination is 2/3 medium cheddar, 1/3 smoked gouda - the gouda lends the creaminess of a processed cheese, and the bit of smoky flavor is terrific. My mom's preferred recipe is a four-cheese mac, with cheddar, gruyere, fontina, and parmigiano - a little higher-class, and very nice as well!

From Required Eating

What's the Best Mac and Cheese Cheese?

I will eat any mac & cheese, and have made it tons of different ways, but I made it with a rather odd combination once, Brie and Cheddar, cause that's what I had in the fridge, and it came out surprisingly well. Everyone wanted to know my recipe. Sadly, I didn't not write the proportions down.