Food Chameleon

One of the most basic (and most satisfying) foods for a winter's night is homemade macaroni and cheese. This side dish, when doctored with some leftover meat (like ham, chicken or turkey) and a bag of frozen veggies, is elevated to full dinner status. At least, that's what I told the guys tonight when we had that very casserole for dinner. While I have several yummy treats on the week's menu, I especially chose comfort food for the first Monday of second semester.

January is the cruelest month for teachers because we rise in the darkness, step foot into a large, windowless building just as the sun peeks over the horizon, and emerge when the warming rays are waning in the western sky. Of course, as the days grow longer, this will change and sunlight will grace us both morning and evening, but for now it seems we lose nearly all of our daylight hours to working indoors. Thus, something cheery - the edible equivalent of a soft blanket and comfy slippers - has to adorn the dinner table these days, and what better than a basic casserole to warm a body inside and out?

I realize being in love with casseroles and plain old mac and cheese is probably strange, but since I grew up eating these thrifty, tasty concoctions I associate them with home and happiness. Of course, "plain" doesn't have to be a descriptor since this basic dish can be spiced up with all kinds of seasonings. For example, I favor chipotle sauce in my dish, especially with some crunchy veggies like broccoli and cauliflower. Other choices might include leftover shredded chicken, Asian veggies, and some soy sauce with garlic and ginger as a kicker. Consider changing the average cheddar cheese to something more Italian like Parmesan and mozzarella with a good dose of parsley and basil to boot. Another good addition is smoked Gouda with sugar snap peas. See, mac and cheese can be changed to suit any mood, which is another reason it is always an excellent choice for dinner.