I don't know about you, but I love me some Kraft mac n cheese. Ever since I was a wee Chrislove, I've preferred Kraft to any other kind of mac n cheese, including homemade. That preference continues to this day. Of course, I try not to eat too much of it, since it's so damn bad for me, but every once in a while I like to enjoy a plate of Kraft as a throwback to my childhood.
Well, the other day, I was trying to think of something to eat for dinner. I checked my cupboards and refrigerator. I had a pound of hamburger, but I was at a loss as to what I could do with it. Hamburgers didn't sound good, nor did sloppy joes. So I started Googling what to do with hamburger, when I stumbled upon a recipe for ground beef mac n cheese casserole, made with none other than Kraft mac n cheese. The recipe had me there. So I decided to give it a whirl, and I was quite pleased with the results. Follow me below the fold for a great recipe to use on that box of Kraft mac n cheese in your cupboard you don't quite know what to do with.
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Aside from a box of Kraft mac n cheese (I'd recommend the family size) and a pound of ground beef, you'll need 1/2 cup chopped onion (I used onion powder because I hate onions), 1/2 cup chopped green pepper, a large clove of garlic (I used garlic powder because I hate working with actual garlic), 1/2 tablespoon of chili powder, a teaspoon of seasoning salt, a 14.5-ounce can of diced tomatoes (undrained), black pepper, and some shredded cheese of your choice (I used cheddar).
First, chop up the green pepper into small pieces.
Sauté the green pepper in a frying pan, in olive oil, until it is nice and tender.
Then, put the ground beef and the green pepper in a pot. Add the onion and garlic (or, if you're like me, the onion and garlic powders).
Cook until the beef is browned, and then drain the liquid.
Stir in the chili powder and seasoning salt.
Meanwhile, you should be boiling the macaroni according to the instructions on the package.
While the macaroni is boiling, stir the undrained diced tomatoes and Kraft cheese packet into the meat mixture.
When the macaroni is done, drain it, add it to the pot, and mix it up.
Then, resist the urge to eat it and pour the mixture into a greased casserole dish (I actually used a cake pan, but the recipe calls for an 9x9 casserole dish).
Finally, sprinkle some cheese on top of it. Because there aren't quite enough calories in it already.
Bake the casserole uncovered at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes, or until it's hot and bubbly.
And this is the final product. Yumm-o!
I also decided to fry some green beans in butter to have on the side, since, you know, the meal wasn't quite unhealthy enough.
And what you're left with is a freaking awesome meal. Kraft mac n cheese never tasted so good!
TOP COMMENTS
December 26, 2012
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From Avila:
From CrazyWin's very thought-provoking The Five Biggest Regrets of the Dying, Dr Erich Bloodaxe RN had an insightful comment that reminded me of how easily many of us choose not to acknowledge uncomfortable facts about life, with a simply stated, elegant reminder of progressive values.
From gizmo59:
There were a few good comments in my diary from earlier today. commonmass made a pithy observation, as did fat old man. here4tehbeer kept me from embarrassing myself completely, and jayden provided the gay icon.
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The Five Biggest Regrets of the Dying by CrazyWin provoked one of the best comment sections I've enjoyed in a long time, where Kossacks spoke openly about their dreams and regrets. This lively and encouraging conversation about writing opera between edrie and Max Wyvern reminded me of why I love this site so much.
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I realize that a Top Comments diarist nominating the comment of another Top Comments diarist must come perilously close to self-nomination, but I am nominating this comment by Noddy in last night's TC diary all the same, as her comment includes all of the things I most love to see in comment responses. It is detailed, responsive, topical, well thought out and imaginative! There were quite a few good comments last night, but this, the last response, stood out for me!
In the West Wing episode, Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc, President Bartlet explains the term (from West Wing Transcripts):
After it, therefore because of it. It means one thing follows the other, therefore it was caused by the other, but it's not always true. In fact, it's hardly ever true.
Mike Huckabee and his ilk always interpret ill which befalls their political enemies as the will of God. Yet, if something bad happens to them or their side, it is in SPITE of God's will. With this comment, Positronicus turned the tables on them in Frederick Clarkson's excellent diary on Huck! Lots of good comments in that diary's comment threads!
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TOP MOJO
December 25, 2012
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Got mik!
1) A Gray's Lily for her and for you. by Otteray Scribe — 109
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3) My brother is in law enforcement in WI and he's by GreenMtnState — 96
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12) Your cornbread is the best for her by Puddytat — 74
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December 25, 2012
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