Alternatives to Kraft Mac and Cheese?

I've always used Annie's they can be found in most grocery stores and they actually have "instant" add water nuke in microwave individual servings. I have never had a problem with any of their mac and cheese products, plus DD loves them.

Yup they make organic and all natural, my DD likes the fun shapes, I love it because it taste good.

We use Annie's too, but be careful about ALL Annie's products being safe. Look at their website--last I checked they had facility information listed well.
BTW, they make a very good mac n cheese--you won't *want* to go back to Kraft!

Quote:Originally posted by lilysmom:
[b]I've always used Annie's they can be found in most grocery stores and they actually have "instant" add water nuke in microwave individual servings. I have never had a problem with any of their mac and cheese products, plus DD loves them.[/b]
We used to use the Annie's microwavable single servings until we found out it's cross-contaminated. Last time I checked it was still not listed as such on the package but was on their web site. I think this mac&cheese and Ritz Bits cheese crackers are what sensitized DD to peanut. She's never had peanut butter or peanuts.
[url="http://www.annies.com/products/microwave_pasta.html"]http://www.annies.com/products/microwave_pasta.html[/url]
We use this mac & cheese now without any problems.
[url="http://www.backtonaturefoods.com/products_dinners_2.aspx"]http://www.backtonaturefoods.com/products_dinners_2.aspx[/url]
[This message has been edited by ceross (edited August 14, 2007).]

I know you mentioned you didn't want to make mac and cheese from scratch but that's what I do and I don't find it much more work than out of a box. I just cook elbow macaroni. Once it's done I throw in a slice of american cheese and some milk, stir it up and serve. DD (age 21 mo.) eats it right up.

We have used Annie's. My kids really like it. I have found a super easy from scratch recipe, though, that literally takes about 2 minutes longer than Kraft, and my kids enthusiastically prefer it.
Boil 1/2 lb elbow noodles.
While they boil, mix 1 C evap milk, 2 eggs, and a dash of hot sauce together.
Also, cut up 12 oz of Velveeta into cubes.
Drain the noodles, mix with 4 tbsp butter, then add the milk mixture and cheese.
Bring to a boil while stirring. (This is the extra 2 minutes.)
It is so good and creamy. Once it boils the egg is cooked, and since you use evap milk, it doesn't curdle.
edited to add - Actually I have no idea if Velveeta is Kraft, so maybe this won't help. Sorry!
------------------
Lori Jo,
Rose, 7-31-02, PA
Noah, 7-29-05
Beatrice & Georgia, 8-14-99
[This message has been edited by Lori Jo (edited August 14, 2007).]

Velveeta [i]is[/i] Kraft.....
But that kind of recipe works quite well with Mexican cheese blends which are preshredded, as well-- just add them at the END of the cooking. Do NOT boil cheese. Icky.
This is the recipe we used to use-- back when Barilla pasta was truly egg-free and DD could tolerate milk... It is more or less based on an 'easy' Bechemel sauce.
1 tbsp butter, cook 2 tbsp flour in melted butter for 3-4 min, add 3 c skim milk, bring to a boil, add 16 oz elbow pasta (or shells, if you prefer).....
Cook for about 12 min (to cook pasta thoroughly) while stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
Turn off heat, remove from heat and stir in 1 c shredded cheese. Let sit for a minute or two before serving.
This is also fantastic with cooked broccoli florets and/or ham in it. Used to be my DD's favorite dinner.

Annies has a blue box version that mimicks Kraft that last I checked was safe. THey sell it by the case at Costco. The micowave version was very good but not safe. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/frown.gif[/img]

We use Road's End Organic. They have 123 Cheese and many other flavors. They are dairy free as well, but I think they taste really good, not gross like some dairy-free products.