Annie's Organic Macaroni & Cheese

Im a big fan of the Shells and Real Aged Cheddar macaroni and cheese. The pasta is delicious (if not over/under cooked...obviously). Ive tried Kraft Organic Mac and Cheese and its nowhere near as good as Annie's. Annie's is absolutely fine by itself if you enjoy the traditional mac and cheese route...If you like adding extras (you know, the "just how mom use to make it" extras) then you can use any mac n' cheese and its really not going to matter if youre adding ten pounds of miscellaneous food. If you are adding tons to your mac you might as well use an organic flavorful pasta like Annie's.

For the traditional mac n' cheese enthusiast I'd say if you pick Annie's you wont be dissapointed. 

When I was a kid Mac & Cheese was my family's comfort food. Crappy day at work for mom? Mac & Cheese for dinner. Didn't win at my track meet? Mac & Cheese for dinner. Life generally dealing a low blow? Mac & Cheese for dinner. Fortunately I didn't have very many comfort food requiring incidents, otherwise my next rating would be of the best green diet pill! Unfortunately, my well intentioned mom only bought Velveeta Shells and Cheese, which, in the course of my green enlightenment I've discovered is really nothing other than an amalgam of chemicals that could probably survive/fend off a nuclear attack.

When a boyfriend disaster struck a few months ago and I felt the urge for Mac & Cheese goodness, I picked up Annie's Shells and Cheese -- admittedly not expecting much -- and I was bowled over by how delish it was. The cheese is creamy -- and real! -- it cooks up fast, and my troubles melted away as the cheese melted into the shells. Mmmm...sounds good right now, even without a minor crisis!!

I can't remember the first time I had Annie's shells and cheese exactly...but it's always been delicious.

Of the various kinds of mac and cheese, I've had the shells and white cheddar, the whole wheat shells and white cheddar, the shells and real aged cheddar, and the peace pasta.

I would have to say, my favorites of those are the shells and white cheddar and the peace pasta (who doesn't love noodles in the shape of peace symbols and a box that's all tie-dyed?).  I'd pick those two (over the shells and real aged cheddar) as the flavors are a little more mild (the real aged cheddar struck me as a bit much last time I had it...also, the orange color from the "annatto extract for natural color" according to the ingredients list is...well...a bit much).  I do like the whole wheat shells for the whole nutrition thing, but as with all whole wheat pasta, the texture is a little grittier.

Things to keep in mind...

1.  The cheesy stuff can clump, so it might take you a little while to mix it all in (you might try sprinkling in a bit at a time and mixing that, as opposed to going for the whole package)

2.  The cheesy-ness is a tad watery if you use non-fat milk (which I suppose is why they recommend low fat milk or yogurt or perhaps adding 2-4 tbs of butter)

3.  Again...a note about the cheesy stuff...it can get sticky and gross if left in the bottom of a pan for a while...ah yes...good ol' messy college days

I love this product...I buy the certified organic ones though. It's great tasting. My son and husband love it as well...and I add veggies to it and sometimes turkey dogs and makes a wonderful meal. This like others has a little bit of a high sodium content.

Some of them are only 70% organic...I get the certified organic ones and the certified organic whole grain ones also.