Kraft Deluxe
Original Macaroni & Cheese Dinner

This recipe is for the "Deluxe" variety of this popular product -- that is, the one that comes with an envelope of thick cheese sauce, rather than the dry, powdered cheese. I think the "Deluxe" version, with its two-cheese blend, is the better tasting of the two, although, it's gonna hit you a bit harder in the wallet. But now, with this JMRecipe, you can make macaroni & cheese that taste like Kraft's original at a fraction of the price.

8 cups water
2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
1/3 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup Cheez Whiz
2 tablespoons whole milk
1/4 teaspoon salt

1. Bring 8 cups (2 quarts) of water to a boil over high heat in a large saucepan. Add elbow macaroni to water and cook for 10 to 12 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally

2. As macaroni boils, prepare sauce by combining cheddar cheese, Cheez Whiz, and milk in a small saucepan over medium/low heat. Stir cheese mixture often as it heats, so that it does not burn. Add salt. When all of the cheddar cheese has melted and the sauce is smooth, cover pan and set aside until macaroni is ready.

3. When macaroni is ready, strain water, but do not rinse the macaroni.

4. Using the same pan you prepared the macaroni in, combine the macaroni with the cheese sauce, and mix well.

Makes about 4 cups.

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Shake'n Bake (Original)

Need a recipe that copies Shake'n Bake in a pinch? Or maybe you don't feel like coughing up the dough for the real thing. Here's the JMR's solution for a quick mimick that will give you the same texture and flavor of Kraft Shake'n Bake using very common ingredients. You may notice the color is a bit different in this mimick when compared to the real thing. That's because this recipe doesn't include beet powder -- a hard-to-find ingredient that lends a dark orange tint to the original. But sink your teeth into the chicken (baked the same way as described on the Shake'n Bake box) and you'll swear it's the same stuff.

1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon corn flake crumbs
2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon sugar
scant 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
scant 1/4 teaspoon onion powder

1. Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and stir to combine.

2. Prepare chicken following the same technique as described on the box of the original mix using 2 1/2 lb. of bone-in chicken (6 to 8 pieces, with or without skin) or 2 lb. boneless skinless chicken breast halves Preheat your oven to 400 degrees, then moisten the chicken with water. Use a large plastic bag for the coating and use the same steps as described on the original package:

"Shake moistened chicken, 1 to 2 pieces at a time, in shaker bag with coating mixture. Discard any remaining mixture and bag. Bake at 400 degrees in ungreased or foil-lined 15x10x1-inch baking pan until cooked through --
BONE-IN: 45 minutes/BONELESS: 20 minutes"

Serves 4

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Thousand Island Dressing

Here's a quick clone for one of the best-selling thousand island dressings around. Use this one on salads or on burgers as a home-made "special sauce." It's easy, it's tasty, it's cheap...and it can be made low fat simply by using low fat mayo. Dig it.

1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon white vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons sweet pickle relish
1 teaspoon finely minced white onion
1/8 teaspoon salt
dash of black pepper

1. Combine all of the ingredients in a small bowl. Stir well.

2. Place dressing in a covered container and refrigerate for several hours, stirring occasionally, so that the sugar dissolves and the flavors blend.

Makes about 3/4 cup.

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