Perfect Box Macaroni and Cheese and Hot Dogs

This post is part of Mom's Crazy Cooking Challenge where each month there will be a different challenge theme (this month is Macaroni & Cheese) and you go out to the "Blog World" and use a recipe by a fellow blogger (not a celebrity chef or other commercialized site) and make your version and post it on the 7th of the month.

Next month's challenge is going to be Chocolate Chip Cookies.  For further details and if you would like to join, click the link at the bottom of the post for more details.

I joined after the 7th but thought I would join the party any way.

I found the recipe at Betty Jo's Blog and my version is basically the same except for a few tweaks, but it was a big hit with my son and I will be making it again.

Recipe:

• 1 box of Macaroni and Cheese
• 4 hot dogs
• 1/2 cup of milk
• 4 tbsp of butter 
• 1/4 tsp Olive Oil
• 1/4 c shredded cheddar cheese (optional) 
• 1 heaping tsp of prepared mustard
• Salt and pepper
• Garlic salt or powder
  
  
  Add a few dashes of salt and bring the water to a boil under medium high.  Add the olive oil and the macaroni.  Cook according the package (approx 7-8 mins)
  

  

While macaroni is cooking, chop up the hotdogs into approx 1/2 inch pieces and cook in the microwave for 3 minutes.

When the macaroni is cooked drain in strainer of colander.

Put the pan  back on the stove and turn down to low heat over low heat and add the butter. Let it melt stirring constantly then add the powder packet from the box.  .

You could smash the cheese powder with a spoon or fork to blend it, but I decided to use my immersion blender to avoid any clumps (you could also use a mixer)

Add the milk a little at a time, blending constantly and then add the shredded cheese.

Add the mustard and blend.

Add the macaroni to the pan and toss with a spoon.

Add hotdogs, season with salt, pepper and garlic salt or powder to taste,toss with a spoon then serve.

Crazy Cooking Challenge