Random Thought Thread v2

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by DownInFlames

I tried some of Matty Matheson's boxed mac & cheese. The cracked pep pep was really good. It's way better than KD, especially the noodles, and worth the extra cost.

For powdered mac & cheese, I wasn’t a fan. I thought there was an opportunity to be much better than the competition of KD and Annies, but maybe my expectations were too high. I think I’d put it at the same or lower level than KD. Matheson seems really authentic as a person, so I guess I was hoping this wouldn’t be some celebrity chef sell-out stuff like Gordon Ramsay, etc. I guess the disappointment was worse than the flavour of the sauce. The technology exists to make a good reconstituted cheese sauce. The stuff they use for carbonara ramen is awesome and it just used the left over starchy water from the instant noodles.

[DownInFlames]

Which ones have you tried? The original seems to get mixed reviews but I haven't tried it yet.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by DownInFlames

Which ones have you tried? The original seems to get mixed reviews but I haven't tried it yet.

The original and the cracked pepper. I know there is a third flavour, but those were the only two that Lina’s sold. I preferred the original though, it was closer to what I expected from a KD clone. The cracked pepper was what I didn’t enjoy. There was this underlying weird citrusy-ness or sour tones to it that I didn’t like. Like some kind of byproduct of the cheese powderfercation.

[DoubleF]

KD is one of those strange things that IMO the more I try and "elevate it", the worst it tastes. If a box is made with milk that has cream and butter instead of the skim milk (mostly flavorless) and margarine it asks for, the end result ends up being weirdly sweet.

I really dislike skim milk and margarine, but it's basically the only way to make KD taste good.

[CroFlames]

KD actually scares me. Like is it even food? Or just fillers? It looks so unnatural and the smell smells industrial. I bet it probably wouldn't even be considered safe to eat by EU standards.

You are better off just buying bulk pasta and then seasoning to taste.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

KD actually scares me. Like is it even food? Or just fillers? It looks so unnatural and the smell smells industrial. I bet it probably wouldn't even be considered safe to eat by EU standards.

You are better off just buying bulk pasta and then seasoning to taste.

Yeah, I do that. For a fast pasta, I'll do boiled noodles, pasta water, butter, some parmesan cheese product and maybe truffle infused oil. I'll use real cheese if I have it on hand. If I spent the time to learn to make a roux, I'm sure I could make it even tastier. Easy option is also to make Campbell's mushroom soup and add boiled noodles to it.

But boxed KD is so weird. Swap the noodles, it's wrong. 1, 2 or 3.25% instead of skim milk, it's wrong. Butter instead of margarine, it's wrong.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

Yeah, I do that. For a fast pasta, I'll do boiled noodles, pasta water, butter, some parmesan cheese product and maybe truffle infused oil. I'll use real cheese if I have it on hand. If I spent the time to learn to make a roux, I'm sure I could make it even tastier. Easy option is also to make Campbell's mushroom soup and add boiled noodles to it.

But boxed KD is so weird. Swap the noodles, it's wrong. 1, 2 or 3.25% instead of skim milk, it's wrong. Butter instead of margarine, it's wrong.

I like browning about 500g of ground beef, add a chopped onion, throw in 2 cans of the condensed mushroom soup, and then a bunch of cooked elbow macaroni. It’s pretty good, and then you can ass whatever else, but it’s like a really fast and cheap version of beef stroganoff.

Also even just the ground beef and onions and then a couple of cups of cooked rice and then seasoned with salt and pepper and add a bit of ketchup. It’s pretty satisfying.

A roux is very simple though. Equal parts fat and all-purpose flour melted together and then add some milk and it’ll thicken. Then you just dump in cheese.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by Wormius

I like browning about 500g of ground beef, add a chopped onion, throw in 2 cans of the condensed mushroom soup, and then a bunch of cooked elbow macaroni. It’s pretty good, and then you can ass whatever else, but it’s like a really fast and cheap version of beef stroganoff.

Also even just the ground beef and onions and then a couple of cups of cooked rice and then seasoned with salt and pepper and add a bit of ketchup. It’s pretty satisfying.

A roux is very simple though. Equal parts fat and all-purpose flour melted together and then add some milk and it’ll thicken. Then you just dump in cheese.

I'll do sausage, onions, butter, mushroom soup, paprika and milk to thin the sauce the right consistency. It's basically a variation on a polish perogy sauce. It a sauce that goes well on noodles, perogies and rice.

Adding cheese to a spicy Korean instant noodle creates a delicious stir fry (non-soupy) noodle that is excellent as a sandwich/wrap. It's a #### ton of sodium though... but so delicious.

A roux isn't hard in theory. I meant learning it so that I could do it dead accurate every damn time without thinking too hard about it. I occasionally do a roux as a base for certain curries so that I end up with a curry that is somewhat sticky. Great for things like curry fish balls and then using the curry sauce to make curry hot dogs. Yum.

[PepsiFree]

Don’t mean to interrupt the jump from KD to curry hot dogs but I have to agree that the Matheson boxed pasta is very good for what it is. You also don’t have to follow the directions quite the same as on the box, just put all the stuff together.

[DownInFlames]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

KD actually scares me. Like is it even food? Or just fillers? It looks so unnatural and the smell smells industrial. I bet it probably wouldn't even be considered safe to eat by EU standards.

You are better off just buying bulk pasta and then seasoning to taste.

That's what I usually do because KD is gross to me.

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Don’t mean to interrupt the jump from KD to curry hot dogs but I have to agree that the Matheson boxed pasta is very good for what it is. You also don’t have to follow the directions quite the same as on the box, just put all the stuff together.

He's also Canadian, and an entertaining guy, so I want to support him. I need to try his burger place if I ever get back to Toronto.

[Weitz]

I like the Annie’s with left over pulled pork or other meat we always have in the freezer. Good enough lunch meal.

[Wormius]

His Youtube cooking channel is quite entertaining.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by DownInFlames

He's also Canadian, and an entertaining guy, so I want to support him. I need to try his burger place if I ever get back to Toronto.

I go to the GTA a lot.

WHere is it?

[btimbit]

Screw you guys, I like KD.

I mean, it's like McDonald's. McDonald's might look like a burger, but it doesn't taste like one. It just tastes like McDonald's. Once you accept that, from time to time, it hits the spot.

Same with KD. It's objectively not good Mac and Cheese, but sometimes I want KD.

Never heard tell of this here Matheson feller, but I'll give it a go

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by btimbit

Screw you guys, I like KD.

I mean, it's like McDonald's. McDonald's might look like a burger, but it doesn't taste like one. It just tastes like McDonald's. Once you accept that, from time to time, it hits the spot.

Same with KD. It's objectively not good Mac and Cheese, but sometimes I want KD.

Never heard tell of this here Matheson feller, but I'll give it a go

Food is one of those weirdly entertaining topics on any forum, message board, etc, because if something cheap and stupid proof like KD or McDonalds comes up you inevitably have people chiming in that they prefer to make their own, completely different thing from scratch, or that they prefer something that is similar but costs 500% more. I genuinely find it funny, and it’s not just here, same thing happens on Reddit or wherever else.

Or like any advice. “Hey I don’t have money for a new car, looking used 10-15 years old under $10k, what’s the best buy?” 100% someone down thread chimes in with “I just leased a 2025 Hyundai and really love it” or “Not sure how flexible your budget is but check out 2018 Porsche Cayennes”

Also Matheson is great, really funny and interesting guy. Tons of stuff on YouTube, but one of my personal favourites is him Hillbilly Handfishing with Brad Leone.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Food is one of those weirdly entertaining topics on any forum, message board, etc, because if something cheap and stupid proof like KD or McDonalds comes up you inevitably have people chiming in that they prefer to make their own, completely different thing from scratch, or that they prefer something that is similar but costs 500% more. I genuinely find it funny, and it’s not just here, same thing happens on Reddit or wherever else.

Or like any advice. “Hey I don’t have money for a new car, looking used 10-15 years old under $10k, what’s the best buy?” 100% someone down thread chimes in with “I just leased a 2025 Hyundai and really love it” or “Not sure how flexible your budget is but check out 2018 Porsche Cayennes”

What's the point of the internet, if it isn't to make baseless flexes

[fotze2]

KD sharp cheddar is a must. It’s close but just a lot better. You are never proud or feel better after but make it as per instructions but more liberal with the butter and has to be whole milk. Boil after draining with the cheese butter milk for a minute or two stirring constantly as it thickens it. No toppings or anything. It’s crack. And you will be peeing put your crack.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

What's the point of the internet, if it isn't to make baseless flexes

It’s also good for acting like an expert on something you don’t really know anything about. Lots of fun!

[Dion]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

It’s also good for acting like an expert on something you don’t really know anything about. Lots of fun!

[Dion]

Originally Posted by fotze2

KD sharp cheddar is a must. It’s close but just a lot better. You are never proud or feel better after but make it as per instructions but more liberal with the butter and has to be whole milk. Boil after draining with the cheese butter milk for a minute or two stirring constantly as it thickens it. No toppings or anything. It’s crack. And you will be peeing put your crack.

KD with a can of salmon mixed is awesome!