Monday, October 27, 2014

Table for 1, please

I have a problem.  I hate making a box of mac-n-cheese and having most of it go to waste because only one kid wants to eat it.  So, a few months ago I did the math and figured out how to make one serving of mac-n-cheese from a box.  (I know, I know, they already have this product, but it's not as good as the box, and my kids won't eat it.)

Single Serving Mac-n-Cheese

1/3 c. noodles
1/2-1 Tbsp butter
1 Tbsp milk
1 Tbsp cheese powder

This recipe will feed one small kid.  (Katrina can usually eat all of it.)  For a bigger kid, we double it.
We make this in a pan on the stove, but you could also make it in the microwave.  A box of Kraft Mac-n-Cheese has four servings in it.  After I open the box, I put the noodles and cheese powder in zip-loc baggies and put them back in the opened box.

Here's my other problem.  Sometimes, just at bed time, I feel a mite peckish.  I often don't want to eat anything nutritious at this point, but there's not usually a substantial treat available.  After sampling many emergency chocolate cake recipes, I came up with this one.

Emergency Chocolate Cake

1 Tbsp chocolate chips, dark is best
1/2 Tbsp butter, I eyeball this
3 Tbsp hot chocolate mix, use a high quality mix.  (I like Stephen's Mexican Chocolate.)
4 Tbsp flour
pinch baking powder
1/4 tsp vanilla
3 Tbsp water

Put the chocolate chips and butter into a mug.  Microwave 20 seconds to melt, mix.  Add the rest of the ingredients.  (The baking powder and vanilla are optional.)  Mix together.  Microwave for one minute.  There will be a little slick of uncooked batter on the top.  Eat while it's still warm.  Ignore your spouse's glares for eating in bed and not making him one.

If this seems a little dry to you, try upping the butter.