If you've ever seen A Christmas Story, you know the heirarchy of dares laid out in the film, with the ultimate throw down being the Triple Dog Dare. Upon receiving that, your reputation is completely destroyed if you back down from this challenge. In my post for Impossible Spinach Pie, I wrote that I might try making Impossible Mac & Cheese Pie, with Cheetos Topping. Upon reading that, Butta Buns threw down the gauntlet and uttered that dare of all dares. With that, there was no choice. My reputation was at stake. (The fact that I was overdue to have my once a year bag of Cheetos had nothing to do with my decision.) Foolhardy though it might have been, I forged ahead heedless of the folly that might arise from my decision. I was Triple Dog Dared, so I would make the pie. See what happens with these food events? Surely Mimi never dreamed her Biscuit Baking Mix Day would come to this..
Making the pie was impossibly easy, as the name states. So easy, I was able to read People magazine as I made the pie.
Of course, I normally read Proust or Thomas Pynchon when I cook, but
mild tabloid fare seemed just right with this recipe. First Step: You put dry macaroni and cheese into a greased pie plate.
My advice is to put the pie plate on a discolored cookie sheet, to make placing it in the oven easier. Don't forget to eat your Cheetos as you prepare the very simple batter and pour it on top of the macaroni and cheese.
It bakes up into nice mac & cheese. Put the crushed Cheetos on top of the pie about 2 minutes before it's done. First off, you will notice that the topping isn't blindingly orange. It turns out that when you crush Cheetos, they aren't as dark as when they're whole. It topping looks almost.....tasteful. Frankly, the Cheetos aren't as tasty as bread crumbs drizzled with butter topping. But, they would be a big hit with kids--or adults with a dominant Child Within.
Impossible Mac & Cheese Pie, With Cheetos Topping
(Betty Crocker Bisquick Cookbook)
Ingredients:
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
1 cup uncooked macaroni
2 1/4 cups milk
4 eggs
1/2 cup Bisquick
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon red pepper sauce
1/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
!/2 cup crushed Cheetos
Directions:
Heat oven to 400 degrees. Grease pie plate 10 x 1 1/2 inches. Mix 2 cups cheese and the macaroni. Sprinkle in plate. Beat remaining ingredients except 1/4 cup cheese until smooth, 15 seconds in blender on high or 1 minute with hand beater. Pour into plate. Bake until knife inserted in center comes out clean about 40 minutes. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup cheese and Cheetos. Bake until cheese is melted, 1 to 2 minutes. Cool 10 minutes.
!!!!! I love it!!!! I'm laughing hysterically over the tabloid, that does seem very appropriate.
You only allow yourself one bag per year? I hope it was a bulk bag, like the kind you get at a Sam's Club or a BJ's Wholesale. Thank you for making my day!
Posted by: Butta Buns | March 12, 2007 at 05:40 AM
Very funny. Before I was into South Beach I admit I was quite a Cheetos fan.
Posted by: Kalyn | March 12, 2007 at 05:48 AM
Oh My God! This looks delicious. I am so trying this. I love macaroni and cheese like nobody's business, and Cheetos too. I'm all about the cheese, if you can't tell that already. So, how did it taste?
Posted by: kristi | March 12, 2007 at 05:49 AM
Impossible, maybe. But irresistible? Definitely!
Posted by: Lydia | March 12, 2007 at 06:54 AM
wow. wow.
I kinda can't get over that!
I'm sure it was delicious... but, wow!
I'll have to try that the next time the boyfriend goes out of town. He'd never let me make that if he were around. party pooper ;-)
Posted by: ann | March 12, 2007 at 09:45 AM
Mmmm... neon orange "cheese."
Posted by: Teresa | March 12, 2007 at 10:53 AM
mmm....love them fakey orangey snacks!
Posted by: Jeff | March 12, 2007 at 10:55 AM
i think it looks delicious!! i'm so glad to know you also read proust wilst cooking.....er i mean what?! brangelina are adopting a 4th OMG!
way to defend your honor, good one!!
Posted by: aria | March 12, 2007 at 12:21 PM
That's hilarious! I love the neon day-glow of cheetos. Actually I love cheetos, but only eat them once every couple years or so. More than that and I think it's too much of a shock to the system. Would never have thought of cooking with them though...
Posted by: Elise | March 12, 2007 at 12:42 PM
Love it! Love it! Love it! It looks really good, even with, or maybe because of, the Cheetos on top.
Posted by: Glenna | March 12, 2007 at 12:55 PM
Yeah this is awesome! I can't help believing the irresistible cheetos crunch must completely elevate this dish.
Posted by: Callipygia | March 12, 2007 at 01:40 PM
Absolutely YUM! I am definitely trying this.
Love the idea of using Cheetos in a dish. Thank you!
Posted by: anne | March 12, 2007 at 01:58 PM
I laughed through this whole post! Definitely better choice to go with Brangelina than Proust. Love the photos!
Posted by: Susan from Food "Blogga" | March 12, 2007 at 02:13 PM
I was wondering if you were going to go through with making it. It actually doesn't look as bad as I thought it might.
Hey, maybe you could leave the Cheetos whole .. or use those little round ones .. or even the flamin' hot ones .. or ..
:-)
Posted by: Alisha | March 12, 2007 at 04:35 PM
My problem would be that by the time the pie was baked, there would be no Cheetos left. Cuz it ain't easy bein' cheezey...
Posted by: Rosie | March 12, 2007 at 05:05 PM
Looks yummy, sounds easy... mmm-boy, them's good eatin'...
Posted by: Kelly Cat's favorite human | March 12, 2007 at 06:21 PM
Well, um, this looks, um...
Good for you, Sher, for stepping up to the Triple Dog Dare and making this very, um, orange, um...
Jeez! I can't lie. The thought of eating Cheetos makes me shudder!
Love the creativity though!
:)) xoxo
Posted by: Christine | March 12, 2007 at 08:17 PM
Macaronni, Bisquick AND Cheetos - oh my heart be still because my for would be really busy.
How very funny! I love that movie; so much it's the only movie Ive ever bought! We watch it Thanksgiving and/or Christmas and laugh like it was the first time.
Posted by: Tanna | March 12, 2007 at 10:41 PM
This sounds interesting! The cheddar cheese really wins me over. Won't mind trying the cheetos on top :D
Posted by: Anh | March 13, 2007 at 12:38 AM
I'm trying to eat my Taco Bell taco's while reading quality food blogs, and I can't! Why?! Good question. Because I'm laughing way too much over your cheeto entry. TOO FUNNY!!!
Posted by: Laurel | March 13, 2007 at 01:34 AM
Oh, that was so funny. However, my husband absolutely loves mac 'n cheese and I am definitely buying the ingredients for this to have for dinner. Personally I am a big fan of cheese in anything!
Posted by: sammawow | March 13, 2007 at 05:32 AM
Cheetos and Brangelina, both yummy, mmm! Actually I haven't made any mac-n-cheese pie, yours looks incredibly delish and easy, will be back for your recipe when kids come to my house!
Posted by: gattina | March 13, 2007 at 05:47 AM
That was a Funny write up :) So was this with a bonus bag of Cheetos ?
Posted by: sandeepa | March 13, 2007 at 06:55 AM
Well, Sher I was really typing fast there and left off the k in fork.
ha
Posted by: Tanna | March 13, 2007 at 09:18 AM
You're awesome!
Posted by: Jenn | March 13, 2007 at 11:19 AM