The following “Chew This!” column originally appeared in “The Courier-Times” and / or “The Shelbyville News”. Check their websites for further information and dates.

Something “Quick and Dirty”

Blaise Doubman

Everyone seems to have their own recipe for macaroni and cheese, and I too have several on my website. Some of my recipes are stovetop versions, some you pop into the oven and even one of them I have listed you make in a coffee mug in the microwave! I honestly do not think I have met a macaroni and cheese I have not liked. Even leftover and cold straight from the refrigerator! Here is a tip I bet you have not heard. Well, unless you are a loyal reader to my column and website because I believe I have mentioned it there before. Anyways, the secret is mustard. Yep. Mustard. Close your mouth now.

Just a dash of mustard in any macaroni and cheese will make the cheese taste more like cheese. I promise if you try it, it will change your life! Well, maybe not that dramatic but yes it sounds weird but it is really delicious! Same goes for chocolate and coffee. I always add a little coffee in whatever chocolate dessert I am making, and it only makes the chocolate taste more like chocolate. This recipe comes to me from my a very good friend. It’s like macaroni and cheese with the volume turned up! Way up! What is with the name? You tell me.

The Quick and Dirty

1 box Velvetta macaroni and cheese

1 box Kraft macaroni and cheese

1 pound sausage

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

½ teaspoon fennel seed

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon black pepper

½ teaspoon paprika

Start by preparing both packages of macaroni and cheese according to the package directions and preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

While the pasta is boiling, start browning the sausage. Once browned, drain and set aside into a medium sized bowl. To the sausage add the garlic powder, onion powder, fennel seed, salt, black pepper and paprika. Stir until evenly coated.

In a large bowl add both macaroni and cheeses and the seasoned cooked sausage. Stir together well. Pour into a lightly greased 9×13-inch baking pan. Top with thin slices of butter. Bake, in preheated oven, for 20 minutes. Remove, allow to cool and enjoy!

Ask and Answer: Pamela Paul from New Castle wrote in and wanted to know if I had a recipe for Snickerdoodles. Yes! On my website I have several versions of regular and special Snickerdoodle cookies.