As my circumstances improved, I expected more from macaroni and cheese.  That led to mega-roni and cheese, and complete satisfaction.

When i was poor and didn’t know any better, I’d get the powdery version of Kraft macaroni and cheese.  This should only be eaten in dire circumstances.

When I wasn’t poor anymore, but still didn’t know any better, I’d get the Deluxe macaroni and cheese.  The cheesy sauce is sort of like cheese, and formulated to satisfy.  There just isn’t enough.  I’d find myself trying to squeeze the last little bit out of the tube, like a junky.

I wanted to step up my mac and cheese game.  Cheryl, NoRo’s chef in attendance, had me over to learn six different ways to make mac and cheese.  Mac and cheese made with cheese, doesn’t do well in the refrigerator.  Living alone, leftovers are important to me.

Nacho sauce is the trick to making macaroni and cheese.  Right out of the jar, it’s creamy and mixes easily.  After being in the refrigerator, it doesn’t turn into an unmanageable ball.  Add as much as you want, and get the spicy version if you want some heat.

Mega-roni and cheese is a complete meal, and is so good, it’s hard to stop eating.  Like everything I make, it’s optimized for Aldi.

The recipe for mega-roni and cheese.

  • 1  16 oz bag of conchiglie pasta
  • 2  15 oz jars of salsa con queso
  • 1  16 oz Jimmy Dean pork sausage, hot
  • 1   bowl of chopped onion
  • 1   bowl of chopped green pepper
  • 1  10 oz package of cherry tomatoes
  • 1  cup of peas
  • 1  cup of corn

Put the water on to boil just before cooking the sausage.

Fry up the sausage until it only has a bit of pink left.  Throw in the onions, peppers and tomatoes. 

Stir occasionally.  Put the pasta in the boiling water.

When the onions are nearly cooked, throw in the corn and peas.

Don’t overcook the pasta.  Dump it in the strainer, and rinse with cold water to stop it from getting to soft.  Dump the pasta in a big bowl, stir a jar of nacho sauce.  Dump the sausage mix on top, throw in the other jar of nacho sauce, and mix thoroughly.

Options

If you are a total wimp, get mild sausage and mild nacho sauce.  That’s pretty bland.  Spicy or hot sausage gives a little zing.  If you want more heat, get medium or hot nacho sauce.

If that’s not hot enough, throw in a few jalapenos with the green peppers. 

The recipe works with chicken or tuna, but those don’t bring any heat, so add the jalapenos.