Eric Langland
Professor Miller
English 110 H2
12 September 2018
Homemade Mac and Cheese
On special occasions and holidays my mom will make the family favorite homemade mac and cheese. It all starts with a pound of elbow macaroni and bacon. The bacon sizzles on the grill and smells of the food will start to wander the house. Everyone’s mouths water in anticipation of the meal they are about to have. Meals like these do not come very often. We all share feelings for a particular dish whether it is made by mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, or comes from a certain restaurant. The relationships we share with different foods and people has shaped the feelings we have for certain occasions and events that take place in our lives.
Certain foods hold special meanings to all of us. This particular mac and cheese dish holds a special place in my heart because it reminds me of the holidays and spending time with family. These are joyful memories, times that I look forward to each and every year. When I asked my mother what her relationship was with the dish she stated, “Mac and cheese is a comfort food that my mom and grandma made, it brings back memories of when I was young and when we had family dinners.” Both of us share similar memories from the dish. The meal brings her back to times she spent with her family as a child. She cherished those moments together with her family. Now that her siblings have grown up, and family members have passed, it cannot be the same as it once was. This meal is more than just a plate of mac and cheese. The smell, the taste, and the delight that comes from it is something that we all can relate to. This is why certain meals are cherished and craved. It is not necessarily all about the taste but what the food brings in happiness and good memories.
Different foods and aromas bring us back to our younger days. The days that were stress free, where there was nothing to worry about and no bills to be paid. Just a time where you could be a happy kid. When I asked my mother why the Mac and Cheese was her favorite dish she stated, “I used to make it with my grandmother, I can remember grating the cheese with her and having so much fun. Everyone would help out.” Making the mac and cheese attracted everyone in her household together. Working together as one with her family brought pure joy to her. Moments together with her family and relatives did not come by often and having a fun time with all of them meant the world to her. The emotional impact this meal has on my mother goes to show that certain foods hold can hold great significance. It brings people back, it gives you feelings of nostalgia. These are feelings of our younger days that we all want back. Days that many wish they could relive. It is the memories we can reexperience through these foods that makes them so powerful and meaningful.
Tradition is important part of many people’s lives. Traditions are important to the foundation of many different relationships. Whether it be a certain ritual, story or custom, or meal, each holds significance in their own way. In my family’s case, the homemade mac and cheese on holidays has been in my family for many years. Whether it be on Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any major celebration, you can always count on grandmas’ original plate of mac and cheese on the table. As my mother stated, “The recipe was originally from my grandmother”. Her grandmother was the start of the tradition. It was something that started when my mother was just a child. It is through these traditions that we can remember those before us and celebrate the many to come. Although my great grandmother is no longer around, she still is with us in many ways including through the food that she has made and passed down. While not physically existent she is still present through the tradition she started.
In conclusion, certain foods hold great worth. Certain smells and tastes bring us back memories good and bad. They bring individuals together and also bring us feelings of happiness and delight. Yes, food is just something that we consume, but, they hold deeper meanings and can be symbols of things greater than us. In my mother’s case, it brings her back to her childhood and spending time with family. These are great memories and times that she wishes she could relive. The significance of certain foods is different to all people. We all have our own feelings and thoughts on what holds special meaning to us. It may not always be a plate of food; however, it is something that we hold near and dear to our hearts and cherish forever.
Recipe:
Ingredients:
1 lb. elbow macaroni
1/2 pound bacon
1 1/2 cups bread crumbs (panko)
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
1 stick butter
2 shallots minced
1/2 cup flour
1 qt milk
8 oz gruyere grated
8 oz cheddar grated
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp grated nutmeg
How to Prepare:
1.) Preheat oven to 350
2.) Cook pasta according to directions, drain when done and set aside
3.) Cook bacon completely, drain and then crumble when cooled
4.) Topping: breadcrumbs, 1/2 of the crumbled bacon, parmesan cheese, and 2 tbs of melted butter, mix and set aside
5.) In saucepan sautee shallots in the remaining butter once soft add flour, cook for minute to get out raw flour taste then wisk milk in slowly till hot
6.) Add cheese to milk mixture stir till completely combined and add salt pepper and nutmeg
7.) Combine macaroni to the cheese sauce mixture add remaining bacon stir completely and pour into baking dish
8.) Add bread crumb topping and cook for 30 minutes until bubbly
Works Cited
Goodfriend, Wendy. “Homemade Mac and Cheese” Get Your Comfort Food On: Homemade Mac and Cheese, Please!, KQED INC, 2 Feb. 2017, www.kqed.org/bayareabites/114939/get-your-super-bowl-on-homemade-mac-and- cheese-please.
