Sunday, March 2, 2008

Champagne Taste, Beer Budget Recipe

One night, when my twin brother was staying with us, Frank asked me if he could cook supper. Having no idea what he was going to cook, but happy someone other than me was going to do it, I whole heartily let him fly at 'er. I have to admit when I saw the ingredients I sort of shivered and thought "OMG what are we going to be eating??"

Some people will look at these ingredients and will truly think that they are beneath them, wouldn't get caught dead making this (or so I've been told). But I feel that if I put something nutritious together then I've accomplished my goal; as long as it tastes good, and the kids love it, what does it matter? So don't be turning your noses up just yet, this is actually quite good and you will most likely have everything in your cupboard, even if you haven't been to the grocery store in awhile.


Frank's Kraft Dinner Tuna Style

Two boxes of Kraft Dinner, or I think in the States, it's called, Kraft Macaroni & Cheese. My brother (he's such a Kraft dinner buff) has told me that you can't get it at all in Australia so the next time you Australians are in Canada pick up a box or two just so you can try the recipe :)


OPTIONAL: Coarsely chopped celery, or onions, or anything chopped that will be a bit crunchy. Don't chop it too fine or it will go right through your strainer!


A few tablespoons of margarine, but if you don't have any that's okay.


One can of Tuna, I prefer chunk light tuna in water but any kind will do.


One can of Mushroom Soup.


Boil up the Kraft Dinner and when there is three minutes left on the timer, add the celery to the boiling water. Strain. Add the packages of powered cheese along with a few tablespoons of margarine. Mix well. Add the tuna and mushroom soup. Mix and serve. Frank likes to sprinkle crushed potato chips on the top and bake in the oven for a bit but I just mix and serve, nothin' fancy here :)

Doesn't sound or look appetizing at all but really it is! Combined with a salad or slices of cucumber (if you've been to the grocery store recently) this makes an excellent (and nutritious) supper or lunch.

Thanks Frank! (Stay tuned for his ground beef version, it's not what you think).

C'mon back and let me know if you liked it :)

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

My partner and I survived undergrad poverty on just such a dish. We bought tuna by the case. Try adding frozen peas next time along with the celery.

KansasA said...

The frozen peas sound great! I'll have to try that the next time I make it. Thanks :)

Anonymous said...

Well, to be honest, I can't stomach tuna, salmon yes, tuna no, although after puking up fish all day Thursday and reliving the nausea today, I must say neither kind of fish is doing it for me. I do think it would be great. I do a ground beef version without Kraft dinner, just with regular macaroni and Cheeze Whiz and the other ingredients which I won't share just yet as I want to se how Franks recipe compares;-). I would definitely put peas in.

Oma said...

It is mighty tasty!

tanita✿davis said...

Ooh, celery. Hadn't thought of adding that, but when we used to make this, we did add peas. Some people use chunks of ham (we use a vegetarian variant). We haven't used the boxed stuff in years, and don't have any on hand (and don't know if it's in the UK), but this also works with twisty noodles and a mushroom/cheese white sauce that you just make. Quick, good food is never beneath anyone.

KansasA said...

Hi Tadmack,
Great idea using bits of ham, I'll give that a go! It's nice that one doesn't have to stick to a recipe like law and can improvise with whatever they have.

David T. Macknet said...

Or bacon bits - that's always a winner.

As to the tuna - I'd skip it, 'cause of the mercury content, but ... well, I can see how it'd be yummy. And me, a vegetarian now. Sigh.

DEEP END OF THE LOOM said...

This sound good, but I don't do any fish in a can, but maybe premium white breast chicken, we have that in a can here in the states, I'll have to try it and see. Mac and Cheese is a favorite around my house.

Dora Renee Wilkerson said...

NOw that looks so good! My son gives me such a hard time about eatting. The ONLY thing is ever seems to really like is Mac and Cheese. I may have to try this one too.

I wish you the best of luck with your luffa too. Mine have not sprouted just yet but I have read over and over again that it takes them a long time too. So, I'll just wait and see what happens.

Take care,

Dora Renee' Wilkerson

Northernlass1 said...

As a nanny in San Francisco many many years ago I regularly fed the kids mac n chees with tuna (mothers blessing of course!) As a Brit it was soooo alien to me but I grew to love it!!