Most people I know have seen the news about the Texas fires. Devastating and frightening just to watch – I don’t pretend to imagine what it must be like if you live there. What some of you may or may not know is that Bastrop, Texas is where PhilBillPaul’s mom aka Granny lives as do many of his other family members. Over 500 homes have been lost including PBP’s sister-in-law’s on Sunday night. Please send up prayers as we continue to get updates and pray they all remain safe.
We love, love, love macaroni & cheese. By we, I mean all of us except The Grunter. He doesn’t like noo-noos (or noodles as other people call them). Or pasta of any kind. Hot or cold.
He’s weird.
When PhilBillPaul finally ate lunch at Mary Mac’s Tea Room which is an Atlanta institution, he came home and declared it the best macaroni & cheese he had ever eaten.
I was not insulted but I did remind him of another macaroni and cheese recipe I made for many years when the darling twins were little.
Patti LaBelle’s Over-the-Rainbow Macaroni & Cheese
Even though Oprah’s site has the recipe post with a date of 2006, according to my old recipe card, she shared her mac and cheese recipe way back in 1999.
Every time I made it, people gave it rave reviews. It freezes well so I often cut it in squares and wrapped in individual serving sizes because the girls loved to have it after school or for dinner.
The next week I got Mary Mac’s Tea Room Cookbook from the library and we tried that recipe.
photo credits Scary Baby
This one is more souffle-like and has evaporated milk in the recipe and a dash of hot sauce that gave it a little zip. Way less cheese but very yummy.
Since I didn’t adapt or change the recipe in any way, you’ll have to get Mary Mac’s Tea Room cookbook for the recipe if you want to try it. Lots of great recipes and a great gift idea for any cook who loves southern food!
Voting was unanimous. Neither is healthy. Both were delicious!
Patti Labelle’s is the winner for us.
Do you have a favorite macaroni & cheese recipe? The blue box with orange powder cheese does not count. 😉

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