Trader Joe's Unexpected Cheddar Cheese Spread can be stirred into hot, freshly drained pasta to make quick mac and cheese. The spread yields a thick, creamy, gooey consistency and melts evenly, avoiding the uneven melting common with grated block cheese. Reserving a splash of starchy pasta water enhances gloss and texture. The spread is a ready-to-use variant of the Unexpected Cheddar Cheese block and combines Unexpected Cheddar with salted butter and whey. Trader Joe's describes the block as semi-hard with aged-cheddar notes that evolve into tangy, slightly crumbly flavors with salt crystallization, resembling aged Parmesan. Elbow or shell pasta work well; no extra seasoning is necessary.
"To do it, simply stir TJ's Unexpected Cheddar Cheese Spread into a pot of hot, freshly-drained pasta to make mac and cheese. Texturally, the spread achieves the thick, creamy, gooey consistency that even freshly-grated cheese off the block (as most "homemade" mac and cheese recipes call for) often fails to achieve. No uneven melting here, officer. For an even glossier melt, reserve a splash of starchy pasta water to stir in, as well."
"If you're wondering what makes this ingredient so unique, TJ's ready-to-use Unexpected Cheddar Cheese Spread is a spinoff of another fan-favorite product - the Unexpected Cheddar Cheese block - which Trader Joe's describes as a semi-hard cheese that looks and tastes like aged cheddar from the initial bite. But then, "The smooth creaminess of the Cheddar gives way to a tangy flavor and slightly crumbly texture, a subtle hint of salt crystallization is discovered, and it begins to taste like an aged Parmesan.""
"To transform Trader Joe's Unexpected Cheddar Cheese Spread - a luscious, ultra-savory mixture of Unexpected Cheddar, salted butter, and whey - into a rich pot of homemade mac and cheese, all that's left to do is add a box of your favorite pasta shape. No extra salting or seasoning required. Elbow macaroni would yield a classic mac and cheese presentation, while shell pasta could catch even more of that bold chee"
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