ChatGPT Mac and Cheese

The other day my daughter wanted macaroni and cheese for lunch. However, we didn’t have any macaroni and cheese with the pre-made cheese mix.

What we did have was macaroni noodles on their own, along with shredded cheddar cheese.

So I asked ChatGPT the following question:

If I just have elbow macaroni, shredded cheddar cheese, milk, and maybe a few other ingredients, how can I make macaroni and cheese?

And here’s how it responded:

You can make a simple stovetop macaroni and cheese with just those ingredients. Here’s how:

Ingredients:

• 2 cups elbow macaroni
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 cup milk (whole or 2% works best)
• 2 tbsp butter (optional but recommended)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Cook the Pasta:

   Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the elbow macaroni according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside.

2. Make the Cheese Sauce:

   • In the same pot (or a separate one), melt the butter over medium heat (if using).
   • Add the milk and heat it until warm but not boiling.
   • Slowly add the shredded cheddar cheese, stirring constantly until it melts into a smooth sauce.

3. Combine:

   • Add the cooked macaroni back into the pot and stir to coat it with the cheese sauce.
   • Season with salt and pepper to taste.

4. Serve:

   Enjoy your homemade mac and cheese while it’s warm!

Optional Add-ins:

• A pinch of garlic powder or mustard powder for extra flavor.
• A bit of flour (about 1 tbsp) mixed with butter before adding milk to thicken the sauce.
• A splash of hot sauce or paprika for a little kick.

So I was still able to make my daughter some mac and cheese. And I thought it was good. I did add some a little flour like it suggested to thicken the sauce; I didn’t add the other addins because, well, my daughter is only five and wouldn’t appreciate her mac and cheese being even a little bit spicy.

Of course, the most important judge of whether it was good or not is was my daughter herself. And she said she liked it!