Use What You Have: Mac and Cheese Without a Pan or Colander

By (Guest Post)

A couple years ago when camping, I boiled pasta for pasta salad and realized I had no colander. I poked a few small holes in the waxed paper bag the pasta came in, carefully poured it in and shook it around to drain out the water. My husband thought I was brilliant. Reuse, recycle, repurpose is my motto!

By

Poor But Proud

First off, I agree with all the posters. Some people are so spoiled that if they don't have a coffee grinder and power to run it, their day sucks.

This brings to mind a couple of "fixes" that I came up with too.
I was in Fairbanks, AK, just moving into a trailer. Before I had the pots and pans, which I mistakenly packed first in the van, I wanted to make some Mac and Cheese, too.

I had power, but nothing to cook it in or gas to heat the water. Then, it came to me. I had a perkelator coffee maker. I figured if it boiled water for coffee, it should make macaroni. Well, it did.

I impressed my new husband to no end. In fact, he told every one the next day what I did.

Years earlier, I was at a BBQ with some friends. The "gals" were suppose to bring the food, and the "guys" were suppose to cook. Well, one guy forgot the spatula to turn the hamburgers.

I had just opened some big cans of Pork and Beans, and had the lid. I secured it between the 2nd and 4th tine on a 5 tine fork, bent it a little to make it angle, and Voila'!!

My mom and I used to travel with my dads, and she was the only woman I have ever known that could make goolash in a five pound (you could still get that size back then) coffee can over a campfire.
In the morning, she would fill it with water and heat it, making oat meal or cream of wheat in the bottom, while putting a pie tin on it to scramble eggs.

You are right, nothing to panic about. Just something to think about and do different!

Good story. Thanks for the memories.

By (Guest Post)

I grew up in a 'make do world' so I come up with some goodies at times. My husband thinks it is hiliarious sometimes, but hey, I get the job done! Sometimes the fixes last longer or as long as the "right way". I tell everyone my house is held together with duct tape and liquid nails!

By

jmz2005

Amazing what our minds come up with when need be. Good thinking!!!

By Ted N (Guest Post)

Well Melody you are one clever and thinking Lady, my kinda Gal the type that uses her head instead of going into panic mode.