I spent most of my adult life without mac and cheese. It was something I distantly remembered eating as a kid but the memories were as faint and foggy as everything else from the first decade of my life. I had not found enjoyable substitutes in my early vegan years and then stopped looking for it, stopped thinking about it. Just didn’t seem like a feasible ask, to have creamy, indulgent mac and cheese totally suffering-free.

I was, as I have often been in my life when I found certainty, mistaken.

The first time we made this mac and cheeze recipe was a game changer. It was so perfect and also unthinkably easy. We did it with bbq shreddies then (Morningstar farms pulled pork or shredded jackfruit, if you want to try). Then we were in London, Ontario and tried vegan fast food from Globally Local. They had “Supreme Style Loaded Fries” that were cheeze and taco meat on fries. We decided to adapt it onto loaded mac and cheeze. Now it is my favorite meal to eat. Yumm.

Taco Supreme Mac and Cheeze

Serves: 4, or 2 people for two meals

Omnivore Index: There is nothing vegan about this creamy, taco supreme bundle of joy

Ingredients -16 oz pasta shape of choice -1/4 cup nondairy butter -1/4 cup flour Cheeze Sauce -4.5 oz (1 cup) raw cashews, soaked in water overnight then drained -1/4 cup nutritional yeast -3 cups plain nondairy milk -2-3 cloves garlic -1 tbsp white miso -2 tsp apple cider vinegar -2 tsp dry mustard -1/2 tsp turmeric -2 tsp salt Taco Meat -8-10 oz meatless crumbles -1 tbsp chili powder -1 tsp paprika -1 tsp cumin -1/4 tsp cayenne -1/2 tsp oregano -1/2 tsp salt -1/4 – 1/2 cup water -1 tsp onion powder -1/2 tsp garlic powder -freshly cracked black pepper (like… ten cranks)

Recipe -Cook and drain pasta according to normal package instructions -Combine all Cheeze Sauce ingredients in high speed blender and blend for at least a full minute or until smooth -Thaw crumbles -Combine crumbles with all Taco seasoning ingredients, microwave until hot 2-3 minutes -In a medium pot, melt butter -Add flour, cook while stirring for 2-3 minutes or until slightly golden -Whisk in Cheeze Sauce, cook and stir over medium heat (5-7 minutes) -Mix Cheeze Sauce into pasta -Top with preferred fixings and enjoy (we go for diced tomato, shredded lettuce, and a dollop of plain nondairy yogurt)

Notes We use Silk plain protein nut milk We use Earth Balance butter We use Silk plain yogurt We use Simple Truth brand meatless crumbles (found at Kroger in our area) but Gardein would be second choice In these pictures, we had Spinach instead of romaine

Closing Arguments

I swear, this goes on the dinner list every other week because I always want it.

Alternative idea for Loaded Mac n Cheez:

Chicken Parmesan Mac n Cheez

-same mac n cheez recipe, but instead of taco supreme it is served with vegan chicken patty (Simple Truth brand in this case) with vegan cheez broiled on top