Is This Really Junk Food?

Today we celebrate Junk Food Day, as we have a few times in the past now. Of our four chats regarding junk food, half have involved beefy burgers, and three of the four were served on bread or a bun. That just leaves one Junk Food Day that wasn’t really about Junk Food as we typically think.

Growing up, junk food had to come from a fast food restaurant of some kind. Why else would those places be such rare treats? Like Dad’s Christmas Fudge, it was doled out in limited portions. It never occurred to me, or to any of us back then, that money had anything to do with raising a family. The girls always had new (home-sewn) dresses for Easter Sunday with white gloves and white shoes. Brother Dear had a new suit. There were the practical gifts at Christmas, yet Santa always managed to bring that one special “big” gift like a new bike or roller skates or a Brownie Camera that opened up a whole new way of seeing life for me.

Like Dad’s rich Christmas Fudge, McDonald’s wasn’t good for you in large amounts, so it was reserved for something special. Dad’s fudge and cookies were Holiday Special, handed out but once a year. Fast food burgers were a special reward for things like Brother Dear hitting a home-run or me earning a new Girl Scout patch or riding a bike for the first time without training wheels. Eating out was not something you did for convenience sake. And looking at the price of taking the family out for fast food burgers today, we might just go back to the days when doing so was something special.

Here I go again, going off subject. Today we’re serving up Macaroni and Cheese for Junk Food Day. I can so clearly remember the first time I had Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. It blew my mind that cheese came in a bright orange powdered form. As I remembered cheese, most of the time it didn’t come sliced or shredded. It was in blocks or rounds that you kept in the ice box. (Yeah, I’m that old. Well, sort of that old. I grew up hearing my dad call the refrigerator the ice box, so that’s what we called it. It took Hubby laughing at me all the time to get me to stop. Just as I don‘t say open the light anymore. That is a Filipino thing – open or close the light). Where was I? Oh yeah . . .

If you make Mac and Cheese with quality cheese and a good pasta, does it still qualify as a junk food option? I’ve had Mac and Cheese at some rather nice restaurants, and they certainly don’t think of it as junk food. So maybe junk food isn’t so much what you eat – as in a burger – but rather what goes into what you eat. A steak burger vs. ground goodness only knows with filler added, right?

Anyway, let’s stop jabbering and get to cooking so we can get to eating. Blessed Sunday everyone!

Oh, and one more thought – Kiddo and I took one bite of this over the top fancy Mac and Cheese and realized it was missing just one thing – Black Truffle Cheese. Yeah, add a little of that earthy goodness of truffles to the mix – oh my!

Creamy Three Cheese Mac and Cheese
16 oz small Pasta Shells
2 cups Sharp Irish White Cheddar, shredded
1 cup Manchego Cheese, shredded
1 cup Gouda Cheese, shredded
8 tablespoons Butter, cubed
1/2 cup Flour
1/2 teaspoon Onion Powder
1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper
1/4 teaspoon Salt
Pinch Chipotle Pepper
1-3/4 cups Milk or as needed

Bring lightly salted water to a boil in a stockpot. Cook pasta shells al dente according to package direction. Drain pasta well, return to pot until ready to use.

While the water comes to a boil and the pasta cooks, shredded the three types of cheeses, set aside.

In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in the flour and seasoning until smooth, creating a thickening roux. Gradually whisk in the milk. Bring mixture to a boil, stirring constantly, until thickened, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in the cheeses until melted and smooth. Add pasta, toss to coat. If desired, season with a pinch more pepper.

Serve with a simple salad for a light yet satisfying supper that won’t heat up the house.

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God Himself is my help.
The Lord upholds my life, I will offer You
A willing sacrifice and praise Your name
O Lord, for its goodness