Q&A with Stephanie Stiavetti Author of MELT: The Art of Macaroni and Cheese
Everyone one loves macaroni and cheese and we were beyond thrilled when the cookbook MELT:The Art of Macaroni and Cheese came out! The entire book is dedicated to this family favorite, offering recipes that not only pair pasta with an amazing variety of cheeses but include plenty of fruits, veggies, and even full salads! We asked cookbook co-author Stephanie Stiavetti a few questions about the book, her love of mac and cheese, and cooking in general!
1. Here at Pasta Fits, we’re all about (you guessed it) pasta. Pasta also happens to be a main ingredient in macaroni and cheese, which you have created an entire cookbook about. Can you tell us how your love affair with macaroni and cheese started?
Oh, wow. Well I guess it began when I was very small, when, like most American kids, I refused to eat anything but macaroni and cheese. Of course it was the 70s/80s, so that meant that I was almost entirely living on The Blue Box ™. I don’t think I had a real macaroni and cheese dish until I was in my early 20s. That one experience changed me forever, because it showed me there was a more to eating beyond the food I grew up on. An obsession was born.
2. Do you have a favorite recipe from your book that you’d be willing to share? Why is it your favorite?
Yes! I really love the Beecher’s Flagship Cheddar with Avocado and lime. You might raise an eyebrow and think, “What? Avocados in mac & cheese?” And to that I would reply with a hearty, “YES!!!” This gorgeously green, creamy dish is a lighter version of macaroni and cheese, lightening up the dish a bit with the healthy fat of avocado and a touch of lime for zing. You can use any cheddar you have handy – I personally prefer aged white cheddars, which tend to balance sharp and sweet very well. We made this dish on TV a few months back, and the anchors of the news show were totally blown away by how good it was. And when you can impress TV personalities, I’d say that’s a good endorsement!
3. In addition to being a cookbook author, you also write an awesome blog called The Culinary Life, where one of your goals is to make sure your readers enjoy their time in the kitchen. Do you have any advice for our readers?
Sure thing! I offer culinary coaching to people who are intimidated by cooking, or who find themselves eating more boxed food than they’d like. I put a lot of time and thought into figuring out ways to beat cooking overwhelm and make the kitchen a happy place for everyone. My number one tip is to simplify. A lot of my students and private clients try to take on huge, epic recipes, and while I appreciate the ambition, you have to walk before you run. Work with simple recipes that only have three steps and a handful of basic ingredients. Learn to tease maximum flavor out of those straightforward dishes, and then move on to intermediate recipes that present more of a challenge. Or join my mailing list for advice on how to overcome cooking stress.
4. We like to focus on making pasta meals that fit into a healthy lifestyle. Do you have any tips on keeping dishes (like Mac’N Cheese) healthy but still delicious?
One way I really like to lighten up mac and cheese is to mix a handful of veggies (this can work with into any cheesy dish). There are so many choices: baby peas, chopped broccoli, roasted butternut squash, sautéed asparagus, blanched Brussels sprouts – really, the sky’s the limit. And if you’ve stuffed yourself silly with the most delicious mac and cheese dish you’ve ever tasted, which we all do from time to time, nothing makes you feel better like a 15-minute walk afterwards. It’s amazing how much better I digest food now that I take an evening walk after doing the dishes!
Want to know a little more about MELT. Check this out:
About Stephanie Stiavetti
STEPHANIE STIAVETTI is a freelance food writer, recipe developer, and digital food-media mistress residing in Oakland, California. Her work has been featured on NPR, Huffington Post, KQED, Culinate, and Serious Eats. A tech maven at heart, Stephanie has been blogging since before blogging was invented. You can find her online at her award-winning food blog, TheCulinaryLife.com
Check her out on: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, or Google+
You can also find the Beecher’s Flagship Cheddar with Avocado, Lime, and Shell Pasta recipe on Pasta Fits!
