Well, howdy.
June has been a whirlwind and another busy month is ahead. We’re in the middle of packing up our house to move to Utah while my husband finishes a doctoral internship. We’ve moved often in our nearly 13 years of marriage, but this is our first big move with three kids — which somehow makes everything feel more official. The packing and juggling of family stuff is exhausting, and moving really does suck.
There’s a silver lining, though. Amid the chaos I’ve been coping by making and enjoying plenty of macaroni and cheese as I prepare for National Macaroni and Cheese Day on July 14th. Yes, I actually prepare for food holidays — and I’m proud of it.
Food Holidays
Working in food has its perks, including the freedom to celebrate every food holiday with enthusiasm. Instagram would be a much sadder place without National Donut Day or National Mac and Cheese Day posts. In earnest preparation, I teamed up with Reser’s Fine Foods to create a standout mac and cheese.
I was one of three Portland bloggers tasked with using Reser’s Main St Bistro® Signature Macaroni and Cheese plus three extra ingredients of our choice. We developed our recipes, met at Reser’s headquarters to taste and plan, and later returned for a friendly competition. My fellow competitors were Marlynn from Urban Bliss Life and Melissa from Melissa Kaylene.
We sampled Reser’s delicious Main St Bistro® Signature Macaroni and Cheese and then set out to create our own versions before filming the competition.
The Competition
This was my first time being taped for TV, which was a little nerve-wracking but mostly a lot of fun. We had 30 minutes to complete our dishes. Marlynn, Melissa, and I had a blast—there was playful banter, but mostly mutual support.
Our judge, Molly Reihl from Fox 12 KPTV, asked questions much like on other food shows. We enjoyed the process and the chance to showcase our creations.
The Winner
The competition’s winner got to present a $1,000 check to the Oregon Food Bank — a cause we were all thrilled to support. While the judges deliberated, we sneakily sampled each other’s recipes and engaged in light stress-eating, which made the wait even more entertaining.
The judges said the final decision was super close. I can’t reveal the winner yet — you’ll have to tune in on National Macaroni and Cheese Day, July 14th, to see the outcome. Local viewers can catch it on FOX 12 KPTV in the morning; I’ll share the segment here after it airs.
My (Potentially Award-Winning) Recipe — Sassy Pants Creamy Macaroni and Cheese
All three entries were fantastic. For my recipe, I leaned on a beloved pairing: bacon. To elevate it, I made candied bacon with brown sugar, which added sweet, smoky depth. For the third element I stirred in canned, fire-roasted diced green chiles to add brightness and a bit of heat. The result was a sweet, spicy, creamy, and cheesy mac and cheese that’s hard to resist.
Using Reser’s Main St Bistro® Signature Macaroni and Cheese as the base made this recipe fast and simple. The product is creamy and rich, made with real butter and real cheese and without artificial flavors or colors.
For finishing touches I garnished the mac with a dusting of chipotle chili powder for smokiness and chopped fresh cilantro for brightness.
Watch the competition on FOX 12 KPTV on the morning of July 14th or return here for the replay.
Below is the full recipe so you can make Sassy Pants Macaroni and Cheese at home.
📖 Recipe
Sassy Pants Macaroni and Cheese
Ingredients
- 6 strips of bacon
- ¼ cup dark brown sugar
- â…› teaspoon salt
- Dash of pepper
- 20 ounce tray Reser’s Main St Bistro® Signature Macaroni & Cheese
- 3 tablespoons canned fire-roasted diced green chiles
- Finely chopped fresh cilantro and chipotle chili powder for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
- Place bacon in a bowl and toss with brown sugar, salt, and pepper. Lay slices on the lined baking sheet and sprinkle remaining sugar over the bacon.
- Bake about 15 minutes or until golden brown. Bacon will crisp as it cools. Transfer to a cutting board and set aside.
- Partially remove the film from the mac and cheese and stir in the diced green chiles. Replace film and microwave for 3 minutes.
- Carefully remove film, stir, and microwave an additional minute or until hot throughout.
- Chop candied bacon into bite-sized pieces and sprinkle over the mac and cheese.
- Serve garnished with fresh cilantro and a pinch of chipotle chili powder, if desired.
Nutrition Facts
Tag me @heatherlikesfood and use #heatherlikesfood so I can see what you’re making and enjoying!
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