Annie's Shells and White Cheddar

When I was a kid, I remember being caught in the eternal debate between Annie's and Kraft. I had friends on both sides of the (often-heated) argument, but I personally loved both and was therefore able to remain neutral. I knew that I would eventually end up writing about Annie's for this blog simply since I eat so much of it; it's not unusual for me to finish a box in one sitting, and my roommate and her boyfriend even bought me a six-pack for my birthday. As a freshman in college, I would order cases of Annie's and cook it in my dorm kitchen. Annie's has a lot of delicious memories for me, as you may have gathered, but I tried to remain neutral in my review.

A close-up taken just after preparing.

Deliciousness in a bowl? Perhaps.

Ratings

Flavor: 4.5/5. Annie's has a flavor that's pretty different from most other boxed mac and cheeses. They use white cheddar, as opposed to the typical orange cheese "product" used in many other products. This results in a less intense kick of flavor, but its mild goodness is delicious and comforting.

Consistency: 3/5. One of the things that has always bothered me about Annie's is the fact that the cheese sauce is relatively thin. I have found, though, that adding extra butter remedies this problem to an extent.

Pasta Shape: 5/5. I love shells; they're so versatile and I really feel that they can work with almost any type of sauce. In this case, they hold the white cheddar nicely and are fun and easy to eat.

Overall: 4/5. Annie's pretty much always comes through, and their mac and cheese is a delicious classic. I recommend adding more butter and a little less milk than instructed, as it really enhances the flavor and texture of the cheese.

Nutrition Information: Serving Size 2.5 oz (about 1 cup prepared). 280 Calories, 40 Calories from Fat; 4g Fat, 2.5g Saturated Fat; 10mg Cholesterol; 530mg Sodium; 47g Carbohydrates; 2g Fiber; 10g Protein.