Have you ever had Mac and Cheese Loaf? Is this a Canadian (or Midwest) kind of thing?

Not a Canadian thing, as far as I know. I’ve never heard of this, let alone tried it.

Of course, in Canada, we’d never call it a “mac and cheese loaf”. We’d call it a “Kraft Dinner loaf”. Just one of our many differences. ;)

Here is a picture of some packaged Mac and Cheese Loaf. I had never heard of it or seen it in the store, at least not with the macaroni in it. The same type of thing, kind of like bologna, with the chunks of cheese in it has been around at least since the 60’s when I was a kid, sometimes with the addition of green olives.

Here’s a very Artistic cross section of mac and cheese loaf.

Even though it’s meat and I would never eat it, and it’s probably full of nitrites and other bad stuff, it actually sounds like something I would like the taste of. Plus it looks neato, in a scary Stepford Wives kind of way.

I just saw @Kardamom‘s link to the photo and I’ve seen food like that before, but never have eaten it. That could go right back into another conversation about what Jewish people don’t eat. (although, I don’t see anything wrong with some marshmallows in hot chocolate with breakfast). I lived in MI for three years and visit often and I know I have never seen it in anyone’s house.

Anyway, that Mac and cheese loaf falls right into the whole middle America, white bread, mayo, bologna, drink milk with dinner, category for me. I didn’t even know people drank milk with dinner voluntarily until I ate in my college cafeteria in MI.

No. Frankly, that sounds and looks disgusting.

Totally agree with ^^ @ragingloli ^^ sounds and looks bad..

Seriously, mac and cheese is something you eat after you run out of bread and water. Why would you want to make a loaf out of it?
Have some real Spaghetti Carbonara instead.

Thanks, everybody. I’ve decided that if I see it in the grocery stores at which I normally shop, I’ll give it a try bit I’m not going out of my way since I’m already NOT a big fan of bologna, spam or olive loaf and this item seems reminiscent of all three.

The main reason I thought it might be a Canadian thing is because it was featured on Chopped Canada. But since Koegels (the company which makes it) is located in Flint, Mich. (rather than the U.P.) it must have been a Mich. thing at one time.

@Kardamom

That second pic is a little disturbing. I wonder what those red flecks scattered throughout are supposed to be ?

@JLeslie

Cute list. I noticed the absence of Bacon which is interesting because, unless they keep strict kosher, most Jewish people I know eat lots of Bacon (even tho not part of their heritage whether Ashkenazic or Sephardic).

I guess it goes to show that if something is delicious and enticing enough, exceptions will be made, heritage be damned :)

So, i guess that the items on that list don’t qualify as being as enticing as bacon :)

However, I don’t think drinking milk with meals is particularly a Midwest thing in the same way as Mayo, white bread, etc. I was born and raised on L.I. and everybody I knew all regularly had milk with meals (except for my best friend, Millie, whose parents kept strict kosher.)

But I certainly understand why Jewish people don’t because of the strict kosher prohibition on mixing milk with meat.

I mean, if you go so far as to keep two sets of dishes, each dedicated to one item or the other, that certainly shows a whole lot of commitment to avoid mixing the two :)

@Buttonstc
paprika, most likely

I live in Canada, I’ve never heard of this before. Not saying we don’t have it. There’s regular Mac and Cheese here, so we might have this too. But I’ve never encountered it. If I ever do, I’m challenging it to a fistfight.

@Buttonstc @ragingloli Those are flecks of red bell peppers (listed as “red sweet peppers” on the product label in the first photo linked to by @Kardamom. I’ve encountered them before in Olive Loaf, and they do add depth to the flavor.

@sahID
We call those ‘paprika’ here.

What North Americans picture when they hear paprika.

@Buttonstc That list isn’t about being Kosher; it’s about not being goyish. Although, some of the traditions/stereotype probably stems from having been kosher generations in the past.

@JLeslie
That sounds a bit racist.

Most people don’t call Jews a different race anymore.

It’s not racist, it’s just stereotyping all in good fun.

I think those red “sweet peppers” are pimentos, like in this lovely Pimento Loaf.

Rank