Broke Code: Food

Money is evil. Food is not.

You have a date coming over and you don’t have enough money to take her out. You panic and try to figure out something to do. Well, grab yourself a $2 rose from the local gas station and stop by the grocery store for the items in the following recipe! You can get all the ingredients for under $20 and have a fancy meal in 30 minutes. And remember: the best way to anyone’s heart is through their stomach.

Buffalo Chicken, Macaroni, Cauliflower and Cheese

What you need:

two cups elbow macaroni

one cauliflower head

two cups macaroni and cheese blend cheese, or

one cup cheddar, half cup mozzarella, half cup parmesan, blended

three buffalo chicken patties

one fourth cup olive oil

tablespoon butter

half cup two percent milk

half cup of plain Greek yogurt

half cup breadcrumbs

What you do:

-Bring a pot of water to a boil. Five to seven cups can do it, but make sure there is enough for cauliflower and macaroni.

-Add macaroni to pot of boiling water, reduce heat to medium, place cover on and boil for five minutes.

-Put the three buffalo chicken patties in a shallow pan with just a dab of olive oil. Cook them on medium on each side for about three minutes.

-While the noodles and chicken are cooking, chop your cauliflower head. Trim off the bases and most of the stalks, leaving just the florets.

-Reduce the heat to low on the macaroni and add the chopped cauliflower. Let cook for three to five more minutes.

-Chop the near-done buffalo chicken patties into small pieces and set aside.

-Strain the macaroni and cauliflower together in a colander. Rinse under warm water for ten to fifteen seconds and let sit.

-Make a roux. Start by adding the tablespoon of butter and half cup of milk together in pot. Put on a medium heat, stirring frequently. Slowly stir in the Greek yogurt, continuing to heat, then add one and a half cups of the cheese mixture to it. Continue to slowly stir for five to seven minutes.

-Slowly stir in macaroni, cauliflower and chicken into roux.

-Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

-Use olive oil to coat bottom of casserole dish, preferably 7x9 in size, but whatever holds your mixture.

-Add the macaroni, cauliflower, chicken and cheese mixture to casserole dish, spreading evenly.

-Spread breadcrumbs and remaining cheese onto top of mixture and place aluminum foil on top.

-Place in oven at 400 degrees for ten minutes.

That is all it takes to have a great meal ready for a great date. It gives your macaroni and cheese texture and kick, both great additions to a classic dish, and it will make you seem like you actually know what you are doing in the kitchen.