I'm not crazy about this stuff. Is there a way to make it taste better? The directions said to add milk. Now, if you're buying fake cheese, it's probably because you're vegan or lactose intolerant. So why would you add milk to your chReese? I didn't have any alternatives around so I added water instead. Maybe I'll add Vitasoy, if I buy it again. I'm hoping a better fake cheese product comes along soon...

I hate it...and my kids were like, "Mom, you can not expect us to eat this!" I bought it once and only once.

No no no!! It's good! I made a post about it in the recipes section ten days ago. You have to add (rice or soy) milk, margarine, and seasoning!! Here is part of my original post:

" The way I make it is...pour the dry chreese powder into a bowl, add some ricemilk, add a TBSP or two of margarine (I use Earth Balance), and boil the water. After the water is boiling pour some of it into the bowl with the chreese and stir it until it's smooth. Then cook the pasta and drain, add a bit of olive oil (it makes left-overs a lot better), stir, pour the melted chreese into the pot and mix! There is one more key ingredient though! ALL PURPOSE SEASONING! I use this stuff in everything! It adds so much to the mac&chreese though. Of course you can use whatever seasonings you want, this is just the stuff I have. "

You can read the whole thread here, other people added some good comments:

http://www.veggieboards.com/boards/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3994

Seriously, it's MUCH better that way. I love it.

I've heard people complain about this before, and I don't get it at all because I LOVE this stuff! It's like my comfort food. When I mix the powder with the hot water, I use more hot water than suggested. (Just a bit). Then I add some soymilk to the water/power mixture. I add some garlic salt to the mix, and when the pasta is finished cooking, I add a little Earth Balance margarine and some cooked spinach.
Mmmm! But, I do love nutritional yeast. I know that can be an aquired taste for some.

Thanks for the tips. I'm not ready to buy it again but it's encouraging to know that it is possible to enjoy the stuff.

I think adding the Earth Balance makes a big difference-I make it pretty much the same way as MissLeigh, and I love it! I'm a big nutritional yeast fan too though...I have to try adding some spinach next time. Yum.

Oh, and I only use the shells n' chreese. The shells are the only ones made of plain old semolina pasta. The penne is rice pasta (too sticky for me) and the macaroni is whole wheat, I believe. I don't have anything against whole wheat of course, but in this situation (comfort food!) I prefer the shells.

oh my gosh. i just came here to post a thread specifically saying the exact same thing haha. im eating it right now. it tastes like curry or mustard or something. it would be fine if i wasn't expecting it to mimic kraft mac and cheese.

i mixed a few tablespoons of salsa in with the chreese sauce and that made it a little better, but i just dont really like nutritional yeast "cheeses" that much anyway.

on the bright side, my cat is enjoying licking the sauce off of my plate.

I've tried the whole wheat mac n cheese one. It was so gross, and the sauce tasted like barf. I might try the shell's and cheese one. I'm not giving up on this brand. I loved Mac n cheese bfore I was vegan, and I'm willing to try anything if it's supposed to taste like it. :)

I like annies peace pasta and parmesan! Of course, it's not vegan so I don't know why I bothered posting that.

its an aquired taste
i used to hate it and then started loving it
eat it when you are really really really hungry

my sister hated it for like 4 years... and now she likes it... mwhahahaha

i have 25 packets coming in the mail any day now... yay!!!!!!!!

:)
Caroline

I don't like it but I do like Chef Deborah's Clone of it Check it out:
http://www.vegsource.com/talk/recipes/messages/72231.html
Really good. Shannon/Zimma

I just bought a box of the Shells & Chreese and now im a little scared to try it, lol. I've read old posts and alot of people said it was really gross...but then other people said how much they love it.

also, how much does one box make? is the serving size enough for just one person, or is it too much?
if there's extras, have u ever refrigerated it and then warmed up the leftovers? cause i wonder how THAT would taste like, haha.

anyways, enough with all the questions...i just wanted to know if i should make it, or hold off of ruining my appetite :p

I just bought a box of the Shells & Chreese and now im a little scared to try it, lol. I've read old posts and alot of people said it was really gross...but then other people said how much they love it.

also, how much does one box make? is the serving size enough for just one person, or is it too much?
if there's extras, have u ever refrigerated it and then warmed up the leftovers? cause i wonder how THAT would taste like, haha.

anyways, enough with all the questions...i just wanted to know if i should make it, or hold off of ruining my appetite :p

This is an old old old thread but since you asked some questions, I'll jump in. :D
I actually like this. I don't know which one I bought, might've been shells and cheese. I know I tried the alfredo one too.
1. Don't expect it to taste like Kraft mac and cheese. It won't. As long as you're not expecting it to, you won't be disappointed.
2. Don't make it with water. I make it with soy milk and margarine, just like boxed mac and cheese.
3. It is a bit bland. Try adding salt or garlic powder. You could try adding beans or veggies to it too.
Like I said, it's a bit blander than you may be expecting. Don't be afraid to doctor it up. it's not gross though. I think maybe lots of people are expecting Kraft mac and cheese. Trust me, you're not going to get that. It's not vile though.
Mary
ETA Whoops. lol The box makes enough for two small portions or 4 sides. The exact same amount regular kraft boxes make. Or you can be a piggie like me and eat the whole thing. haha. I did reheat the alfredo one and, while it wasn't as good as the regular cheese one, it didn't taste any worse reheated. I added a bit of margarine to it, covered it gently with plastic wrap and heated. It keeps the moisture in so it doesn't dry out. :shy:

Hey Mary, thanks for the quick reply.

now i dont feel so scared to try it (and worrying about wasting it if its gross)

I definitely dont expect it to taste like the Kraft Mac & Cheese, especially after i tried making my own mac and cheese with regular pasta and a vegan cheese slice (melted of course). it didnt taste all that great, but it was still bareable, haha.

i was gonna hold off and wait to make it when my mom's home cause i wasnt sure if it was gonna make alot, but she may expect it to taste like Kraft's mac & cheese...and in that case, i dont want her to waste my goods!

i'll let ya know what i think when i get around to making the stuff :D

-Steph

Don't forget to use ketchup! (if you like ketchup)

*perks up* ketchup? Do you add it to the chreese sauce, or use it as a condiment?

I <3 me some ketchup!

well I haven't had the mac n chreeze in a while, but when I did use it I used it as a condiment... had a big puddle of it on the side of my plate and dipped my forkful of pasta in it. :D

i forgot to reply about my Mac & Chreese experience

i made it the day (or a day later) i made my post asking about it

my verdict.....




i enjoyed it very much! :D

i would have eaten the whole thing, but i left some for my mother to try. she wasnt too fond of it, haha. but i cant wait to stock up on that stuff. mmm mmm!!

guys, try adding silk soy creamer plain :-) a good way to add creamy deliciousness without the cruelty - it is thicker than regular soy milk (of course, this is in addition to earth balance!)

i just made this yesterday (thought id give it another try) turns out the first time i made it... i made it wrong. the first time i had made it.. i made it just like regular old mac and cheese cooking the noodles and pouring the packet of chreese over the noodles. well yesterday when i made it i actually followed the directions.. made the chreese sauce in the pan first, THEN add the noodles... i loved it!!!!!! it was so good, i'm glad i gave it another try!!!

*perks up* ketchup? Do you add it to the chreese sauce, or use it as a condiment?

I <3 me some ketchup!

Mmmm... ketchup :drool:. I use it on everything, including mac and chreese.
I usually use it as a condiment. I squirt it on the side of the bowl or in a seperate container, dipping my fork in it before scooping some of the mac and chreese out of the bowl with the same fork. Sometimes I put it over the mac and chreese, but I never mix it in. There's something foul to me about that vinegary smell that it starts to emit once it's warmed up.

^^^ You ketchup people need some help!!! lol. There used to be a show up here in Canada called The Beachcombers and one character, Ol' Relic, used to put ketchup in everything including his coffee. :)

I just fixed me some of this for the first time and I liked it a lot. It was a little bland until I added some spike, and then it was great!