IF THEY BUILD IT, THEY WILL
EAT By Lisa Payne
Who is with me here? You spend your precious time putting together a delicious dinner for your family, all the while imagining with anticipation the loving accolades that are surely coming your way when your family sits down to eat. They are going to oooooh and ahhhhh and tell you what a wonderful parent you are and that you should be on the Food Network (Or maybe you will be happy with a simple thank you). And you are shocked when they say things like “what is that green thing,” or “I’m not eating that,” and “I’m not in the mood for this.” It is probably the 100th time this has happened, but your heart sinks like it is the first time. It makes cooking zero fun. How do you cook for so many different taste buds under one roof? You let them build it themselves! I have become a fan of this lately. I am even writing a cookbook around this concept. It works perfectly on so many levels and for every single meal, even dessert. Here is a recipe that works great for family dinner, feeding a crowd or even for a graduation party. And I am going to tell you the shortcuts so that you aren’t really cooking anything at all. All of this is available prepared at your grocery store. Just provide ingredients you know your family will love. Here are some ideas, but change them up so that every taste bud under your roof is happy. (Whole Foods has an amazing salad bar where you can get so many topping ideas and bring home a little of each favorite).
48
Our Broomfield™ Magazine | May 2022
Build Your Own Mac-n-Cheese Bowl (Purchase quantities depending on the size of your group) •
Prepared Mac and Cheese (Brands we like are Bob Evans or Stouffers frozen pan) or you can even buy a fresh hot pan from Chick-Fil-A
•
Protein, cooked – shredded rotisserie chicken, crumbled bacon bits, sliced hot dogs, taco meat, shrimp, lobster
•
French’s Fried onions
•
Pickled Onions (recipe follows)
•
Vegetables - Any leftover vegetables you have or scour the Whole Foods salad bar, diced
•
Fresh herbs, chopped - cilantro, parsley, chives
•
Sauces – Buffalo, BBQ, ranch, truffle oil, salsa, blue cheese dressing
Warm the mac and cheese according to package directions. Warm your proteins and shred or slice. Dice vegetables. Set the mac and cheese and all toppings out on the table in bowls. Start building! My favorite bowl: Mac and cheese, rotisserie chicken, buffalo sauce, bacon bits, blue cheese dressing and both fried and pickled onions My second favorite bowl: Mac and cheese, sauteed shrimp, truffle oil, fried onions and fresh parsley
