The Macaroni and Cheese Quiz

Answer: Kraft

Kraft is the largest food company in the US and the second largest in the world behind Nestle. Macaroni and cheese is one of their highest selling products and launched them up to this spot. They are also famous for making lots of other cheese products.

Answer: Thomas Jefferson

This may be a bit of a legend, but it has stuck. According to the legend Jefferson discovered macaroni and cheese during a visit to Italy and brought it back with him since he loved it so much. He hired a cook to cook mac and cheese for White House dinners in 1802 and macaroni and cheese has been popular ever since.

Answer: Sodium

Macaroni and cheese is always high in all of these, but sodium takes the cake. It is nearly impossible to make a boxed or packaged dinner that doesn't include a large amount of sodium and macaroni and cheese is no exception. Luckily, sodium unlike the others won't make you fat, but it can be bad for other parts of your body, such as your kidneys. Always make sure you drink lots of water with a large bowl of macaroni and cheese.

It too has been increasingly common to add less margarine (responsible for most of the fat or sat fat) in many mac and cheese recipes, since it is becoming of increasing concern. Standard Kraft box (2010): Sodium (25%), Fat (9%), Sat Fat (15%), Carbs (16%)

Answer: True

This color appears somewhere between yellow and orange. This didn't do much to help stop kids from eating crayons.

Answer: The Great Depression

Since macaroni and cheese is cheap, easy to make, and filling, this meal was perfect for all the poor, starving families during the Great Depression. In fact it was this event that led Kraft to become the leader in American food companies. It's popularity also grew during WWII. Kraft macaroni and cheese came out in 1937, during the Depression and four years before America joined WWII.

Answer: Kraft dinner

This usually specifically refers to macaroni and cheese made by Kraft, but since it is the most common type, macaroni and cheese is often simply referred to as Kraft dinner. Macaroni pie is actually what it is called in the Caribbean.

Answer: China

This may not be true, but according to mac and cheese legends, Marco Polo traveled to China in the 13th century and brought back macaroni. Shortly after we have records of the first recipes for macaroni and cheese in Southern Italy.

Answer: New York City

For those mac and cheese fans that are interested, their websites are www.smacnyc.com and www.supermacnyc.com. Though it originated elsewhere, macaroni and cheese is a very American food, so it is fitting a place like New York City offers restaurants that specialize in macaroni and cheese.

Answer: Parmesan

The earliest Italian recipes of macaroni and cheese included a cheese very similar to Parmesan. Parmesan was also the cheese of choice by the Jeffersons when they first served it.

Answer: Water

Water is necessary for boiling the macaroni but is not recommended in the macaroni and cheese. This is typically drained before eating. It is possible to use water as a substitute for milk, but it is not recommended. (I tried it once and it was terrible) The other three, however, are on just about every boxed instruction to be added with a cheese powder and mixed with the macaroni. And yes, despite macaroni and cheese already being very high in sodium, nearly all boxed recipes recommend adding a pinch of salt as well.