Canadians like their….. Kraft Dinner
Maybe I should make this a series? Seeing as how I keep referencing things they really seem to like around these parts?
Not only do they call it Kraft Dinner (I thought that was an old term! Like before it got brought down to “macaroni and cheese",” some people may have referred to it by brand name? But no, they actually call it that *and* label it that on the box!)….
But check out how many kinds there are! I wish my picture had been taken from further back because if you look at the top, that whole next row up is all mac and cheese, too.
Er, “Kraft Dinner”….*giggles*
Extra cheese, cheese and tomato, alfredo, sharp cheddar, three cheese are the pictured ones. I looked it up and KD (yes, they even call themselves that….doesn’t it make them sound cool? *stifles more giggling*)also has some made with cauliflower….whole wheat original and whole wheat white cheddar….white cheddar, mild cheddar, original, extra creamy, and spirals. I think that’s all of them.
Well. That’s all of the macaroni varieties. Did you know they also have crackers?
Oh yeah, crackers….
*cough* Weirdos *cough*
And did I mention that they eat it with ketchup? No really.
I thought this video was just extreme exaggeration or a parody making fun of a few people (or kids) who happen to put it on their occasionally.
But I was wrong. I’ve seen it done. More than once. It’s a real thing. A common thing even. I might even go so far as to say a custom.
Actually, check this out. There’s a whole thing about Canadian culture in Kraft Dinner’s Wikipedia page. Here are some snippets:
- One author noted that "in Canada it’s the number-one-selling grocery item and an object of worship on par with hockey."
- In Canada, Kraft Dinner has iconic status and is associated with young adults, in that it is an easy and inexpensive food for young people living away from home for the first time.
- "Kraft Dinner revolves in that all-but-unobtainable orbit of the Tim Hortons doughnut and the A&W Teen Burger. It is one of that great trinity (…) as genuine Canadian cultural icons."
- Of the 7 million boxes of Kraft Dinner sold globally each week, Canadians purchased some 1.7 million of them.
- …Canadians, who have a more intimate and intense relationship with Kraft food products than the citizens of any other country
- Canadians and Kraft products have bonded the way Australians have bonded with Marmite
Yeah. *shakes head at those silly Canadians* :P
Back of the box recipes- Penne Pasta with Spinach & Tomatoes
I always see the recipes on the backs of boxes and insides of labels, but I never actually use them. I tend to think they’re there just to make the food look good. Plus, I usually don’t even have the ingredients on hand that those funky recipes tend to call for.
Well for whatever reason, I decided to change that and try out some of those dishes that are supposed to be oh-so-good.
Success! I already had everything and it turned out delicious.
I even got the dingy orange/yellow color going on to match the picture on the box, woo! Really, though, the pasta was more this color and was much more appetizing than the grainy box image let on.
Recipe, in case you can’t read the box:
Penne Pasta with Spinach and Tomatoes
Ingredients:
8 oz penne rigate
3 oz chopped pancetta or bacon (about 4 or 5 slices)
2 T olive oil
2 cups baby spinach (I used frozen and it was fine)
1 large garlic clove, minced
1/4 red wine vinegar
1 1/3 cups grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
1/3 cup parmesan (good without it, too)
Prepare pasta according to package. While cooking, saute pancetta in olive oil until crisp. Remove from pan, leaving oil in pan, and set aside. Add spinach and garlic to pan, sauté until wilted. Add vinegar and cook for 2 minutes. Add tomatoes and cook until softened and hot (2-3 minutes). Add drained pasta and bacon to pan and gently toss. Sprinkle with cheese. Serves 4.
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