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Weight Loss Forum / Low Carb / January 2004

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lazy person's mac&cheese substitute

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emkay - 29 Jan 2004 01:29 GMT
I make the "Macafoni & Cheese" recipe sometimes (google for it if
interested -- there's a zillion hits).  While I like it, it doesn't really
resemble macaroni & cheese at all -- the eggs make it taste more like
quiche.  Last night I made a quick stove-top eggless version that was much
more reminiscent of mac & cheese to me.  Unfortunately I didn't measure
anything:

In a heavy saucepan heat about a cup to a cup and a half of Hood Carb
Countdown milk.  (Or you could use a mix of cream and water, if you don't
have access to the Hood stuff.)

Drain a one-pound block of tofu and dice into little rectangles about the
size of small elbow macaroni.  (I used extra firm, but firm might be
better.)  Dump it into the warm milk and let it simmer for about 15 minutes
-- makes the texture nicer.

In a different pan, melt about 1/2 tablespoon of butter over low heat.
Whisk in 1/8 tsp of xanthan gum.  Add a ladleful or so of the warm milk
from the tofu pan; whisk for a minute to thicken.  Add a handful of
shredded cheese.  Stir until smooth (or until too thick to stir.)   (I used
a bag of pre-shredded cheddar & monterey jack.  Freshly shredded would have
tasted better.  This is the "lazy person's" part of the recipe.)

I alternated adding milk and shredded cheese, stirring constantly, until I
had sauce that was creamy and of sufficient quantity to mix with the tofu.
It was probably about 4 ounces of cheese and maybe half a cup (or 3/4 cup)
of the milk, altogether.

Dumped the rest of the milk out of the tofu pan, stirred the warn cheese
sauce over the tofu bits, and ate it with steamed burttered broccoli.  It
made 3 servings.

Em
Rebecca - 29 Jan 2004 03:50 GMT
> In a different pan, melt about 1/2 tablespoon of butter over low heat.
> Whisk in 1/8 tsp of xanthan gum.

Can I substitute Guar gum?

Rebecca
emkay - 29 Jan 2004 03:57 GMT
>> In a different pan, melt about 1/2 tablespoon of butter over low heat.
>> Whisk in 1/8 tsp of xanthan gum.
>
>Can I substitute Guar gum?
>
>Rebecca

Probably.  (I've never used it, but they seem to be interchangeable in a
lot of recipes.)

Em
Jean B. - 29 Jan 2004 13:32 GMT
> I make the "Macafoni & Cheese" recipe sometimes (google for it if
> interested -- there's a zillion hits).  While I like it, it doesn't really
[quoted text clipped - 29 lines]
>
> Em

Em, that reminds me of an even LAZIER version, which I think I
would use with cauliflower and not tofu.  It uses sour cream as
the base.  No making the sauce.  What do you think?

The Lady's Cheesy Mac (6-8)
Source:  Paula Deen via the Food Network; changes by JB

4 cups cooked elbow macaroni, drained (obviously we'd
 use parboiled cauliflower or cut-up tofu or some LC
 pasta--IF there is a palatable one now)
2 cups grated cheddar cheese (or some mix of cheeses)
3 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup sour cream
4 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk (we'd use low-carb dairy beverage, or cream--
 maybe diluted, depending)
more cheese, if desired

Preheat oven to 350F. Place cooked macaroni (or substitute) in a
large bowl and while still hot (if using the pasta or
cauliflower), add the cheddar.  (It would be less messy to mix
this into the other ingredients, but then it would require enough
cooking time to be sure it melted.)  In a separate bowl, combine
the remaining ingredients and add to the macaroni (or whatever)
mixture.  Pour macaroni (or whatever) mixture into a casserole
dish and bake for 30 to 45 minutes. Top with additional cheese if
desired.

Signature

Jean B.

Luna - 29 Jan 2004 16:50 GMT
> > I make the "Macafoni & Cheese" recipe sometimes (google for it if
> > interested -- there's a zillion hits).  While I like it, it doesn't really
[quoted text clipped - 58 lines]
> dish and bake for 30 to 45 minutes. Top with additional cheese if
> desired.

That's still not lazy enough for me. My EXTREMELY lazy mac & cheese
substitute:

Open can of mushrooms, put in bowl.  Add cheese and butter, microwave until
cheese is melted, salt to taste.

Signature

Michelle Levin
http://www.mindspring.com/~lunachick

I have only 3 flaws.  My first flaw is thinking that I only have 3 flaws.

Jean B. - 29 Jan 2004 18:33 GMT
> That's still not lazy enough for me. My EXTREMELY lazy mac & cheese
> substitute:
>
> Open can of mushrooms, put in bowl.  Add cheese and butter, microwave until
> cheese is melted, salt to taste.

Okay, that is pretty lazy.  I can see that the mushrooms could
have a decent texture, but they also have a flavor and color that
is hard to imagine--as a sub for mac and cheese anyway.

Signature

Jean B.

Luna - 29 Jan 2004 23:25 GMT
> > That's still not lazy enough for me. My EXTREMELY lazy mac & cheese
> > substitute:
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> have a decent texture, but they also have a flavor and color that
> is hard to imagine--as a sub for mac and cheese anyway.

The reason it works as a substitute for me is that when I hanker for mac &
cheese, I'm really just wanting something with melted cheese on it.  
Actually, I could just eat a bowl of cheese, that would be even lazier.

Signature

Michelle Levin
http://www.mindspring.com/~lunachick

I have only 3 flaws.  My first flaw is thinking that I only have 3 flaws.

emkay - 29 Jan 2004 23:50 GMT
>That's still not lazy enough for me. My EXTREMELY lazy mac & cheese
>substitute:
>
>Open can of mushrooms, put in bowl.  Add cheese and butter, microwave until
>cheese is melted, salt to taste.

Heh.  Now I don't feel so lazy after all!

Em
Luna - 30 Jan 2004 01:47 GMT
> >That's still not lazy enough for me. My EXTREMELY lazy mac & cheese
> >substitute:
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Em

Almost everything I eat is about that easy to prepare.  The most
complicated recipe I make (complicated = most ingredients, most steps) is
low-carb chicken nuggets. Cutting the chicken, crushing the pork rinds,
dipping in egg . . . man, no wonder I only make these every once in a
while.  I am not a lazy person in general, cooking is just not where I'd
prefer to expend my energies.

Signature

Michelle Levin
http://www.mindspring.com/~lunachick

I have only 3 flaws.  My first flaw is thinking that I only have 3 flaws.

emkay - 29 Jan 2004 23:48 GMT
>Em, that reminds me of an even LAZIER version, which I think I
>would use with cauliflower and not tofu.  It uses sour cream as
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
>dish and bake for 30 to 45 minutes. Top with additional cheese if
>desired.

Sounds tasty, although it seems that the eggs would give it the same
quiche-like quality that occurs with the "macafoni and cheese" recipe.  The
sour cream sounds like an interesting addition.

Em
 
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