Mama Mac ‘N’ Cheese

Today, many people have a favorite kind of mac ‘n’ cheese, whether it be a recipe passed down from generation to generation or a box brand. Ever since the first recorded combination of cheese and pasta, found in an Italian cookbook, variations of macaroni and cheese have delighted people everywhere. The Italian recipe from Liber de Coquina, written in the 14th century, was called “de lesanis” and turned out more like lasagna than mac ‘n’ cheese, but it did inspire chefs to try a new combination of food. As time passed, different interpretations of the supper spread to England and found their way into other cookbooks such as The Experienced English Housekeeper by Elizabeth Raffald, published in 1769.

British settlers presumably brought their mac ‘n’ cheese recipes to the Americas in the 1600s, but the dish didn’t become fashionable among the upper class until later years. During a trip to Europe, Thomas Jefferson fell in love with macaroni and cheese. Upon returning to his plantation, Jefferson’s enslaved chef James Hemings improved the recipe and likely served it to guests of the president. Although it is unlikely that Hemings was the first to introduce mac ‘n’ cheese to the U.S., he played an influential role in making it a classic American food. Macaroni and cheese quickly became popular in the United States just as it had in Europe. 

Now, people often scorn processed food, but for folks living during the Great Depression, cheap dinners that could be cooked up in ten minutes were a miracle. Processed food companies such as Kelloggs, Ritz, and Campbell boomed as families scrambled for inexpensive foods that were both tasty and easy to make. Kraft Foods, renamed Kraft Heinz in 2015, also experienced dramatic advancements by selling macaroni and grated cheese for just nineteen cents a box. Instead of spending hours trying to find and make something for their families to eat, women could serve boxed macaroni and cheese for lunch or dinner and use the extra time to search for work. Kraft had revolutionized the once upper class dish and turned it into a meal for everyone.

For me, mac ‘n’ cheese has a shorter and more personal history. It all started years ago, when my mama attended an extended family gathering. One of my aunts brought her special version of mac ‘n’ cheese and my mama asked her for the recipe. Back at home, she made the meal, and it immediately became one of my family’s favorites. We dubbed it “Mama Mac ‘N’ Cheese,” or simply, “Mama Mac.” After ages of making and remaking this delectable dish, it’s now the main course of almost every birthday dinner and holiday. Technically, it’s not “Mama” Mac, since my aunt first cooked it, but making this meal is a way for Mama to show her love to me and my siblings.

Ingredients:

• 16 cups water
• 1 tablespoon of salt
• Ground pepper to taste
• 1 box (16 oz) macaroni
• 1 cup (8 fl oz) sour cream
• 1 cup (8 fl oz) cottage cheese
• 4 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1 cup milk

Instructions:

• Preheat the oven to 350° Fahrenheit.
• In a large pot, add 1 tablespoon of salt to four quarts of water.

• Bring the water to a rolling boil, then pour in the uncooked macaroni. Stir the pasta every once in a while until it is al dente (cooked, but slightly firm), and then drain. 
• Mix the macaroni, sour cream, cottage cheese, milk, and cheddar cheese together. Season with pepper to your taste.

• Pour the mixture into an ungreased 9″×13″ baking dish or oven-safe pot.
• Bake for one hour or until the top is golden brown and crispy.
• Pop your dish out of the oven and let it cool for a few minutes. 
• Enjoy a scrumptious meal!

Suggestions:

• Avoid skim milk; go for full fat on all the dairy products.

• Have fun trying out different varieties of cheese, pasta, or whatever you feel like adding!

Works Cited:

Miller, Jeffrey. “How Boxed Mac and Cheese Became a Pantry Staple.” Smithsonian Magazine, 12 June 2020, www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/how-boxed-mac-and-cheese-became-pantry-stable-180975023/ 

Hart, Karren. “The 14th Century Origins of Macaroni and Cheese.” TastingTable, 22 Jan. 2023, www.tastingtable.com/1172075/the-14th-century-origins-of-macaroni-and-cheese/ 

Chicago Stories Every Day. “Say Cheese!” Chicago History Museum.

www.chicagohistory.org/say-cheese/#:~:text=One%20of%20its%20most%20popular,had%20limited%20time%20at%20home.

Willsey, Marie. “Who Created the First Macaroni and Cheese?” Howstuffworks, 8 Nov. 2021, recipes.howstuffworks.com/crave-comfort-foods.htm 

Holloway, Richard H. “Foods of the Great Depression: From Peanut-Butter Stuffed Onions to Edible Lint.” Historynet, 23 August 2022, www.historynet.com/great-depression-foods/

Photo Credit:

Jericho Church