My Grammy's Mac and Cheese

by Leigha Staffenhagen

My Grammy is not your average grandma. She doesn’t enjoy knitting. I’ve never seen her carry a purse. I grew up going to her soccer games, where she was an aggressive competitor, until a hole on the field ended her career early at the ripe young age of 52 with a broken leg. And yes, she had no interest in getting medical attention (and also yes, we made her). And. I’ll never forget how inspired I was when she attended college for the very first time at 50, proving to me (but mostly herself) that you can always go back to school, learn more, and reinvent yourself.

While she doesn’t do a whole lot of cooking and usually opts to go the store-bought route for our holiday pies, she does have one recipe that’s always the first to become an empty casserole dish of crunchy remnants: her famous mac and cheese.

When our Editor Nicole asked us to focus on food traditions, no other food came to mind for me. We’re what you might call a typical meat and potatoes family. And I mean literally. I come from a family of 8, and when you’re coordinating sports practices and school schedules and a dad who works night shift, the easiest thing is to pull out some chicken and frozen taters, toss ‘em on a sheet pan and call it dinner.

Nowadays, thanks to the Co-op, and a partner with an adventurous palate, I no longer consider myself a picky eater like I did when I was a kid. But back then, mac and cheese was always a favorite, a comfort

food, one that transcends its three simple ingredients and reminds me of home, a safe and loving space. It was the meal I asked my mom to make when I was home from college. It was the meal we were all excited for when we asked “what’s for dinner?” It’s been a constant in my family’s history, offering a scoop of comfort during stressful familial situations, challenging medical diagnoses, and whatever else life thought was fair to throw at my parents.

To me, my Grammy’s Mac and Cheese is just that, hers. But it isn’t. As with many family recipes, learning how to make the family mac and cheese is something that’s been passed down for decades.

The recipe actually belongs to my great grandma, my Grammy’s mom. But according to my Grammy, her mom would make it with cubed cheese as opposed to shredded. A very minor, insignificant difference, perhaps, but to me, completely sacrilegious. My mom learned how to make it from her grandma when she was just 10 (!!!). And after some significant Facebook research, I was able to pinpoint the day I successfully made it on my own as July 21st, 2014. My mom’s post that day? “The torch has been passed, my grandma would be proud. Leigha now can successfully make our special family homemade mac and cheese. Good job honey.” I look forward to the day that I too can teach my kids, and maybe even grandkids, how to make their great Grammy’s mac and cheese.

So, here’s to my Grammy, and all your grammies, grandmas, nanas, and special gals in your life. May their recipes continue in your kitchen for many years to come, and may you, if you’re lucky enough to get the recipe, continue to share the legacy for many years to come.

But until it’s time for the torch to be passed, I’ll be calling my Grammy to make sure there’s plenty of her famous mac and cheese at Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve this winter. (p.s. love you, grammy )