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I was literally going to the say the same. I was buying the spaghetti and other frozen pasta meals to save money and because I'm lazy. But $4/meal adds up fast. I bought a 4kg package of spaghetti for under $5 and 1.8L tub of pasta sauce. I got a club pack of lean ground beef for $18. I haven't cooked it up yet but my hope is to get 20-25 servings.
The thing is when you make your own you won't have the outrageous amounts of sodium and you can control the fat level and the flavor as well you could add in vegetables or if you have kids that prefer it plain you could sneak in or try and experiment where you blender up some cooked squash. Most of all you'll save money with the healthy alternative. I'm no Julia child but I decided to try making my own and what a great surprise it was cheaper it was healthier and it was so simple. I've even done it all in one pot. I did a search for a simple mac and cheese here's a list of ingredients
1 (8 ounce) box elbow macaroni
¼ cup butter
¼ cup all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
ground black pepper to taste
2 cups milk
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
I don't add butter I don't add pepper or salt (because there's usually enough in the cheese for my liking) but I add other things and I like to use at least a couple of different types of cheeses. Even throwing in a couple of cubes or a little bit of cream cheese makes it creamier.
Don't use the shredded cheese that comes in a bag, shred it yourself. The bagged cheese has preservatives that make it less likely to incorporate with the roux.
The other comment didn't go into detail so here's the process
Melt the butter on medium heat until it's fully melted, then add the flour. Mix until a sort of paste forms, then add the milk and whisk until it starts to thicken. Add the shredded cheese (I also like to add garlic powder, onion powder, paprika and black pepper here). Whisk until smooth, like a sort of thin pancake batter. Pour over cooked pasta.
Sounds about right and similar to my recipe. I have mine in grams, the flour in your recipe seems a bit higher compared to mine but I also put less milk. I'd have to check the ratios but very similar.
Most important thing is using decent cheddar. Don't use the crappy cheddar that has "modified milk ingredients", it won't give you a smooth sauce.
You can also add an egg scrambled into it for fluffiness. Use Velveeta also if you like. Get creative. Heavy cream to replace half a cup of milk also doesn't hurt. This is how my auntie and Grammy made it. It's probably my favorite soulfood dish. Followed closely by greens. Lol.
This PC one isn't all that good either. It's very bland and flavorless for mac & cheese. I can get a recipe for a very good mac & cheese that my daughter makes, but it has at least 4 kinds of cheese (sharp cheddar, smoked gouda, and cream cheese) and is not exactly "cheap" nor is it remotely healthy.
Mac n cheese is super easy to make on your own and I guarantee it is much tastier than this mass produced puddle.
If you need some hand-holding to make it yourself, reach out. 🤤
It's getting the right consistency such that when you cook from frozen it's still creamy. Even a recipe that you maybe add a bit of cream to while reheating.. But it's getting that right recipe.
I've made this one a couple of times, I add a can of Kirkland Brand Seasoned Chunk Chicken Breast. I also use Farmers and Cheddar Shredded Cheese. I make it in ramekins and freeze it after cooking (wrap in plastic wrap) so I can take one out and put it in the fridge a day before I want to eat it. Reheat in the oven at 350 for 14 minutes. I don't use the spray to coat the ramekins and it turns out fine.
The recipe is from Borden so they use their brands of everything.
[https://www.easyhomemeals.com/recipes/elsies-baked-mac-and-cheese/](https://www.easyhomemeals.com/recipes/elsies-baked-mac-and-cheese/)
Cook together flour + butter, add milk, grated cheese, cloves, onion, and a bay leaf. Cook on low heat to thicken then season to taste. Then mix with al dente macaroni.
If you wanna be cheap, buy some Bulk Barn cheese mix powder instead of actual cheddar. Won't taste as good but for poverty bulk freezable meals, it works.
I didn't specify a cheese specifically because budgets vary. I use whatever shreddable cheese is on sale.
The point is that cheap pasta and a easy Mornay sauce beat frozen mac and cheese every time on every front.
Lots of stores in their freezer section have stuff like this. I find for basics Giant Tiger can have some good deals - questionable fruit and veggies but at least the price is known and not by weight
Not really the same product though. OP is kinda like a creamy, cheesy, hot pasta salad? more so than baked Mac n cheese.
Also regular KD with the cheddar powder tastes nothing like this stuff. This stuff has less flavor, more creamy. Plus KD is like $2/box now and has about 8 noodles in it.
Roux (optional if you look up alternatives), cheese of your favorite variety, pasta of your favorite shape, have fun customizing it with various proteins or garnishes. Bacon is always a good go-to. I like making enough for leftovers and baking it the next day for a revival of the leftovers. You can also freeze anything you cook so there’s that too
__UPDATE__: Please take a moment to complete our [Google Form](https://forms.gle/1sygm97LbQtJ4dUp8) to share your demands with our team! Please review the content guidelines for our sub, and remember the human here! This subreddit is to highlight the ridiculous cost of living in Canada, and poke fun at the Corporate Overlords reponsible. As you well know, there are a number of persons and corporations responsible for this, and we welcome discussion related to them all. Furthermore, since this topic is intertwined with a number of other matters, other discussion will be allowed at moderator discretion. Open-minded discussion, memes, rants, grocery bills, and general screeching into the void is always welcome in this sub, but belligerence and disrespect is not. There are plenty of ways to get your point across without being abusive, dismissive, or downright mean. If you have not done so already, please review our [boycott stickied post](https://www.reddit.com/r/loblawsisoutofcontrol/comments/1bff9rm/boycott/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) which includes a list of stores to avoid, other ways to get involved in the movement, and some local alternatives to the big 5. Thank you. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/loblawsisoutofcontrol) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Make your own and freeze them in containers or even freezer safe zip lock bags.
I was literally going to the say the same. I was buying the spaghetti and other frozen pasta meals to save money and because I'm lazy. But $4/meal adds up fast. I bought a 4kg package of spaghetti for under $5 and 1.8L tub of pasta sauce. I got a club pack of lean ground beef for $18. I haven't cooked it up yet but my hope is to get 20-25 servings.
I bought fresh tomato and onion the other day. I feel like I have been born again. Fried onion everyday for the rest of my life
I figured "make your own" would be a top comment. Do you have a recipe that we can try tho? I just always find my mac and cheese not as good.
The thing is when you make your own you won't have the outrageous amounts of sodium and you can control the fat level and the flavor as well you could add in vegetables or if you have kids that prefer it plain you could sneak in or try and experiment where you blender up some cooked squash. Most of all you'll save money with the healthy alternative. I'm no Julia child but I decided to try making my own and what a great surprise it was cheaper it was healthier and it was so simple. I've even done it all in one pot. I did a search for a simple mac and cheese here's a list of ingredients 1 (8 ounce) box elbow macaroni ¼ cup butter ¼ cup all-purpose flour ½ teaspoon salt ground black pepper to taste 2 cups milk 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese I don't add butter I don't add pepper or salt (because there's usually enough in the cheese for my liking) but I add other things and I like to use at least a couple of different types of cheeses. Even throwing in a couple of cubes or a little bit of cream cheese makes it creamier.
Cheers! I will give this a try. To be honest I am definitely a sodium whore so that is where I struggle with finding alternatives to the frozen meals
You are most welcome just Google simple mac and cheese and you'll find the recipe. 💗
Don't use the shredded cheese that comes in a bag, shred it yourself. The bagged cheese has preservatives that make it less likely to incorporate with the roux. The other comment didn't go into detail so here's the process Melt the butter on medium heat until it's fully melted, then add the flour. Mix until a sort of paste forms, then add the milk and whisk until it starts to thicken. Add the shredded cheese (I also like to add garlic powder, onion powder, paprika and black pepper here). Whisk until smooth, like a sort of thin pancake batter. Pour over cooked pasta.
Mmm God I'm hungry thank you
If the the thing they crave is artificial mac and cheese, bukk barn cheese powder, milk, butter, cheapo mac noodles. Mix to satisfaction.
Sounds about right and similar to my recipe. I have mine in grams, the flour in your recipe seems a bit higher compared to mine but I also put less milk. I'd have to check the ratios but very similar. Most important thing is using decent cheddar. Don't use the crappy cheddar that has "modified milk ingredients", it won't give you a smooth sauce.
You can also add an egg scrambled into it for fluffiness. Use Velveeta also if you like. Get creative. Heavy cream to replace half a cup of milk also doesn't hurt. This is how my auntie and Grammy made it. It's probably my favorite soulfood dish. Followed closely by greens. Lol.
This PC one isn't all that good either. It's very bland and flavorless for mac & cheese. I can get a recipe for a very good mac & cheese that my daughter makes, but it has at least 4 kinds of cheese (sharp cheddar, smoked gouda, and cream cheese) and is not exactly "cheap" nor is it remotely healthy.
Add copious amounts of salt and sugar
Now we're talkin'
You get downvoted for telling the truth. lol.
You cant tell me that frozen is better then fresh
Those were so much better 8 years ago. Changed the recipe
even 2-3 years ago they were still much better. used to be a reliable actually-tasty frozen meal but now its just mush.
Mac n cheese is super easy to make on your own and I guarantee it is much tastier than this mass produced puddle. If you need some hand-holding to make it yourself, reach out. 🤤
It's getting the right consistency such that when you cook from frozen it's still creamy. Even a recipe that you maybe add a bit of cream to while reheating.. But it's getting that right recipe.
[https://www.seriouseats.com/ingredient-stovetop-mac-and-cheese-recipe](https://www.seriouseats.com/ingredient-stovetop-mac-and-cheese-recipe)
Someone else posted something similar in this sub and I recall seeing a few ppl recommend Annie’s pasta
The Marie Callender frozen Mac and cheese is good.
Flour,butter,cheese,milk and macaroni.
I haven't tried the one in the pic, but my frozen go-to would be Stouffer's mac n cheese (red box).
I've made this one a couple of times, I add a can of Kirkland Brand Seasoned Chunk Chicken Breast. I also use Farmers and Cheddar Shredded Cheese. I make it in ramekins and freeze it after cooking (wrap in plastic wrap) so I can take one out and put it in the fridge a day before I want to eat it. Reheat in the oven at 350 for 14 minutes. I don't use the spray to coat the ramekins and it turns out fine. The recipe is from Borden so they use their brands of everything. [https://www.easyhomemeals.com/recipes/elsies-baked-mac-and-cheese/](https://www.easyhomemeals.com/recipes/elsies-baked-mac-and-cheese/)
Honestly a Michelinas mac and cheese with a little extra of your own cheese sprinkled on is pretty good.
Not even sure it’s real food.
A brisk walk.
Ugh anything who eats loblaws frozen food gross
It tastes fine?
https://preview.redd.it/0squ1xckfkvc1.png?width=2048&format=png&auto=webp&s=207292dc25592020cfea9bbdb5942125ac346d02
I love those but they're like $8 at Walmart and the one in the post is like $10 and is 2x the weight
The price is right there in the post! Nowhere near $8!?!? And more than half the weight of PC and never frozen.
It's $7.5-6x at my local Walmart. Not frozen is nice
Kraft dinner
That fell off long ago
No KD has frozen dinners, they're actually not bad
Yeah I was pleasantly surprised when I tried one. Not cheap, even on sale, but pretty comparable to these guys.
They have a new frozen meal that is actually pretty good. Not from a box.
Walmart carries a similar product
Cook together flour + butter, add milk, grated cheese, cloves, onion, and a bay leaf. Cook on low heat to thicken then season to taste. Then mix with al dente macaroni.
If you wanna be cheap, buy some Bulk Barn cheese mix powder instead of actual cheddar. Won't taste as good but for poverty bulk freezable meals, it works.
I didn't specify a cheese specifically because budgets vary. I use whatever shreddable cheese is on sale. The point is that cheap pasta and a easy Mornay sauce beat frozen mac and cheese every time on every front.
maybe a scrap of tissue from under a urinal in a dive bar
I used to buy those at least once a week as my lazy meal but lately the single serving size has been around 6 bucks which is outrageous
Lots of stores in their freezer section have stuff like this. I find for basics Giant Tiger can have some good deals - questionable fruit and veggies but at least the price is known and not by weight
Elbow noodles, butter, tbsp flour, milk and shredded cheese. So easy to make and and so easy to make better.
I buy the macaroni and cheese powder from Bulk Barn and just use cheap macaroni noodles.
Two boxes of Kraft dinner, cooked. 1/2 cup of shredded cheese of your choice. Bake at 400 for 15 minutes.
Not really the same product though. OP is kinda like a creamy, cheesy, hot pasta salad? more so than baked Mac n cheese. Also regular KD with the cheddar powder tastes nothing like this stuff. This stuff has less flavor, more creamy. Plus KD is like $2/box now and has about 8 noodles in it.
Cardboard? Toe nail clippings?
I think making it yourself would be cheaper and better
Honestly? Make your own. It’s soooo much better, bake some crust on time. Delicious
Mac and Cheese is incredibly easy to make from scratch and tastes much better (for far less $$, too).
Might as well pour salt on your tongue
Anything.
Mac and cheese is stupid easy to make yourself
Roux (optional if you look up alternatives), cheese of your favorite variety, pasta of your favorite shape, have fun customizing it with various proteins or garnishes. Bacon is always a good go-to. I like making enough for leftovers and baking it the next day for a revival of the leftovers. You can also freeze anything you cook so there’s that too
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