Name: Macaroni and Cheese Mix
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 2½ cups cheddar cheese powder; ½ cup nonfat dry milk powder; 1 teaspoon dry mustard; Water; ½ cup elbow macaroni; 1½ teaspoons table salt; 1 tablespoon unsalted butter; ¼ cup Macaroni and Cheese Mix

Why This Recipe Works

Your days of buying box after box of mac and cheese are over! With this recipe, kids can make a big batch of cheesy dry mac and cheese mix in just 10 minutes. Then, they can whip up a batch of mac and cheese for themselves (or the whole family) whenever they want—just add cooked pasta, butter, and a splash of water. The main ingredient in our mac and cheese mix is, of course, the cheddar cheese powder. Cheddar cheese powder is essentially dehydrated, or dried, cheddar cheese. It can be made a few ways, but the most common way to make it is by spray drying. That means the fresh cheese is melted into a liquid, combined with other ingredients, and sprayed through a nozzle into teeny tiny droplets. Then the droplets are heated, turning them into a powder. If you have any cheddar cheese in the fridge, kids can conduct a mini taste test with the fresh cheddar and the cheddar cheese powder. How do their flavors compare?

Before You Begin

You can find cheddar cheese powder at some grocery stores, or you can order it online. This recipe can be easily doubled or quadrupled to make two or four servings of macaroni and cheese—see “Fun Fact: Macaroni and Cheese for More!” for instructions.

Instructions

For the macaroni and cheese mix: In large bowl, whisk cheddar cheese powder, milk powder, and dry mustard until very well combined, about 1 minute.

Transfer mixture to airtight storage container. (Macaroni and cheese mix can be stored at room temperature for at least 2 months.)

To make 1 serving of macaroni and cheese: Whisk the Macaroni and Cheese Mix inside the container to ensure that all the ingredients are evenly distributed.

In medium saucepan, bring 2 quarts water to boil over high heat.

Carefully add macaroni and salt to saucepan. Cook, stirring occasionally with rubber spatula, until macaroni is al dente (tender but still a bit chewy), 8 to 10 minutes. Turn off heat.

Set colander in sink. Carefully drain macaroni in colander (ask an adult for help). Return drained macaroni to saucepan (be careful—saucepan will be hot).

Add butter, ¼ cup Macaroni and Cheese Mix, and 2 tablespoons water to saucepan. Use rubber spatula to stir until well combined and no dry mix remains. Serve warm.