3-T Cooking

My typical way of cooking is saying to myself, "I have X, Y, and Z that I need/want to use up... how might they go together?" I have re-christened this method 3-T cooking, or "Throwing Things Together." 

When the bunkhouse emptied and there was leftover food, I took a few odds and ends home with me. One of the things was a big bag of Raisin Bran. After getting tired of snacking on dry Raisin Bran, I picked out all the raisins and made my gramma's raisin salad. I crunched up the bran into small bits and attempted to eat it as oatmeal, which just soggified and was difficult to choke down. I also added it to a couple smoothies, which worked to a point; they were a little chewy. Then the other night I had the brilliant idea of making a baked macaroni and cheese using the bran flakes as a crust. The result: delicious 3-T baked macaroni and cheese! 

Baked Embellished Annie's Macaroni and Cheese

bran flakes
curry powder
paprika
2 boxes Annie's or similar macaroni and cheese
hunk of cheddar cheese

Sprinkle curry powder and paprika into the bran flakes to taste. Cook the macaroni and cheese according to the box directions. Add butter and milk for extra creaminess. Grate the cheddar cheese and stir into the macaroni and cheese packets. Once melted, spoon the mixture into a baking dish. Bake until the crust starts to crisp and brown.

Notes: You may grease the baking dish, but it isn't really necessary. We used a gas oven that you have to light yourself, so I have no idea how hot the oven was. I'm guessing it was around 350.

The macaroni and cheese tastes very good with ketchup but is also amazing on its own. My initial idea was to add pureed butternut squash - I'm going to try it next time. My imagination tells me that adding butternut squash will make the macaroni and cheese sweeter and give it a little more substance. Unfortunately macaroni and cheese is one of those carb-laden dishes that doesn't stay in your stomach very long; with a vegetable hidden inside, I think my tummy will have to work a little harder.

What do you like to cook when you 3-T?