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No child can resist the allure of Paw Patrol these days. At least, that’s what I told myself after conducting extended negotiations in aisle six of the grocery store, as my daughter begged for Chase- and Marshall-shaped macaroni, courtesy of Kraft. Now, I have fond memories of the blue box, but as an adult, it’s a little runny and globby for my tastes. So, when I saw Blake Lively’s Instagram Story outlining how, exactly, she upgrades her boxed mac for her kids, I figured I’d give it a try. And I’m so glad I did.
The actress calls for eschewing the instructions on the box, using a splash of whole milk, mixed with the included cheese powder packet, one third of a brick of cream cheese (so about 2.5 ounces) and “two big handfuls of fresh grated sharp cheddar and/or a hard goat cheese or Gouda,” adding that she likes to mix all three cheeses to really go gourmet. I stuck to sharp cheddar (because that’s all I had on hand), but the end result was a much creamier, thicker and more flavorful sauce—all in roughly the same time it takes to make the boxed mac and cheese the traditional way.
The richer, silkier sauce, combined with the chewy, more toothsome character-shaped pasta, actually made for a more robust mac and cheese. The texture was more gnocchi-like, and the cheese sauce felt closer to homemade, albeit without fighting to make a bechamel and dirtying a bunch of dishes.
Yes, yes, it’s not the most all-natural, wholesome meal; but it’s hearty, fun and a good middle ground for the moments your kid’s begging for the classics but you’re craving something a little bolder.