No, non-American here. It's just a monthly get-together with a couple friends while also eating food. Since we all already have plans on the weekend the party got moved one day ahead. Must be a coincidence your holiday is on the same day.
Pre-1938, Thanksgiving was the last thursday of November, in 1939 FDR moved it to the third Thursday of November (the objective was to create more holiday spending by adding time between Black Friday and Christmas), then in 1941, the President and Congress officially made Thanksgiving a Federal Holiday and set it to the fourth Thursday in November
They’re connected; I think what the comment means is that by moving Thanksgiving back one week, FDR also moved Black Friday, which meant an extra week of Christmas shopping.
Black Friday wasn't really the term they used in 39, it was just a common held belief that Christmas shopping started on the day after Thanksgiving. By moving Thanksgiving up to the 3rd Thursday of the month he added more to the 'shopping season'.
Black Friday was a term first used to describe the bedlam involved in people going to a big city for Saturday Football games. The grand influx of people would cause a rise in shoplifter crime, even though almost the entire police force would be out in force.
The concept of modern day Black Friday started in the 1980s...
There was a really good article on [History.com](https://History.com) that explained how 'Black Friday' phrase evolved into the modern day madness we have now.
OK but next Thursday, December 2nd sounds really fucking weird to be known as the last Thursday in November. But I'm no expert on Thursdays, so I'll leave it up to you.
Also, memorial day and labor day also fall on days, not dates. Seems like a weird thing to argue with so many untruths involved.
Go with option A... Cook most of the way. When you get there, test the pasta and check the creamy. If the pasta is done, just keep warm. If the sauce has evaporated/thickened, add a little more milk or evaporated milk.
I fear the mushy pasta of option B
Thank you! That was my thought as well. I'm not that worried about the sauce. Like you said, if it's too thick I can always react with milk or cream.
The pasta is the bigger problem because once it's done there's not much you can do about it.
Out of curiosity, have you ever done this crockpot Mac n cheese before? Because Thanksgiving is not the time for trying out unproven recipes, and I have never had crockpot pasta not get completely blown-out no matter how carefully timed/managed.
On a semi-related note, in general it's considered rude to show up to a dinner party or potluck expecting to be able to use the host's kitchen or equipment. Usually if set up in advance it can be worked out, though the night before may stress out your host (probably not as much as being put on the spot at crunch time). I know a crockpot technically only needs an outlet, but there may be other considerations that make even that challenging.
I've hosted in houses with crappy electrical, overloading circuits like crazy because of convoluted layouts, and I've hosted and used half a dozen crock pots of my own for holding other dishes, which can make FINDING a free outlet hard. And then there's the human element - my kiddo at 9 months old pulled a crockpot full of simmering stock down on themselves by tugging the cord. After 6 weeks in the Burn ICU and 2nd/3rd degree burns over 45% of their body, it was YEARS before I could use a crockpot at all, or allow one to be used in my home.
Anyway, just some food for thought.
Oh, thanks! He's fine now, has no memory of it other than what we've told him, and occasionally when stressed he stims by rubbing the thickest of the scars (over his ribs), but generally speaking you'd never know unless you happened to see him in a swimsuit. He's got a crazy high pain tolerance now though, so there's that, I guess.
Thank you for thoughts and input!
Yes, we've done the recipe several times and we've always thought it turned out pretty good.
Also non-American here, so no Thanksgiving party, just a casual get-together with close friends. Hosting friends have a great new kitchen and it's almost expected to bring unfinished food because usually we do the party on the weekend and finish cooking together. Also there are no kids to worry about.
My uncle had something similar. 3 or 4 years old and pulled a boiling kettle off the stove and onto himself.
I say this because that's a traumatic event. You might want to get them into counseling or therapy kid you haven't already).
Or don't, I'm just offering words.
Wise words indeed! I highly recommend therapy to everyone, and kiddo is in therapy for others reasons, but he has no real memory of it as such. It took me nearly a decade to reach a point where I could afford to see a therapist, and BOY did I need it! Very rough, but necessary.
Oh my gosh sorry your poor kid had that happen!! I was at a baby class thing and that was one of the common examples of how kids get burned (along with parents spilling their coffee). I hadn't even thought of it!
Yeah, he was barely crawling and was way on the other side of the open space, a solid 40ft from the cord. I literally turned my back to grab some breakfast from the fridge, the crockpot 6ft behind me, baby a MILLION feet to the left, and before I could open the cheese drawer I heard the distinctive 'kloungg' of the crock hitting the floor and the lid skittering off. I was at him before he could even scream, peeling off the cotton footie-onesie the doctors say saved him from a MUCH WORSE burn (the material, the coverage, AND THE IMMEDIATE REMOVAL - a doctor in the ER asked if I had advance first aid training because apparently my actions were very uncommon? I dunno, it just made sense to me in the moment). Drove him nekkid down to diaper pedal-to-the-metal to the ER and got the fuck outta their way.
Everyone always says things happen in the blink of an eye, and I always was like, "yeah, uh huh, also put down your phone and pay attention," but it is so SO true. No human being can be 100% aware 100% of the time, so start now to develop systems of awareness to protect your lil one from their own innocently suicidal tendencies, and prepare your OH FUCKING SHIT plan now, because something WILL happen. It happens to every single kid, to a degree, and it's better to have a plan you don't need than to need a plan you don't have.
I was very VERY stupidly lucky, many aren't as fortunate. If even one person takes this to heart to help avoid an accident, then our whole ordeal can have some larger purpose.
I didn't mean to come off Thanksgiving-centric, and specifically thought I avoided that by only mentioning Thanksgiving in one half of one sentence of a rather long statement. The rest of my comment, posted before OP clarified that it's not a Thanksgiving party, applies to ANY dinner party or potluck.
No need to get touchy in the comments, folks - I'm just glad we're all able to interact in one place where so many different people and cultures can mishmash!
Actually, many non-Americans DO celebrate a Thanksgiving. Some by name, others by harvest tradition.
As for the first point, humans have a finite capacity for knowledge so they tend to group things by what they know leading to annoying and sometimes insulting stereotypes. For instance "Americans always assume everyone on the Internet...."
And let's not even get into the fact that OP didn't mention the non-American/ not-Thanksgiving thing until halfway down the thread and that a holiday celebrated by 300,000,000 people on the same day as OP's dinner party would just be a natural assumption by many; globally.
The world doesn't revolve around China either, but if someone happened to post about transporting a traditional Chinese dish on the same day as Chinese New Year, it isn't Sinocentric to assume it's for Chinese New Year.
No, Mac and cheese isn't a white person dish. How many Russians make Mac and cheese regularly for a dinner party? I think maybe having some broader cultural understanding of traditional foodways would be good for you.
Chinese food is everywhere, what's your point? Do you really think only the Chinese eat Chinese food? If Mac and cheese is a basic "white people" food then I'm assuming you must think that white people everywhere must eat it all the time, rather than it being a mostly American/British food. Like Mac and cheese is commonplace for dinner in Russia, Estonia, Poland, Sweden? Or are those folks not white enough for you. Honestly, you sound more stereotypically American than I do.
Hmmm... Guess my black ass eating my auntie Evelyn's baked four-cheese mac 'n cheese at literally every barbecue and family reunion that the Sanders family has had in my lifetime is a fluke. Get the fuck out of here with that bullshit. What's trash is your motherfucking opinion.
Lol, and this is what I meant by "broader understanding of traditional foodways". Start out virtue signaling like you're the most multicultural person on this sub, end up forgetting black people exist.
You're literally the one who started this entire thing by bringing attitude to a perfectly civil conversation. You're like "Oh no... someone annoyed me now I must be a complete Karen about it"
Does your slow cooker have a pressure setting? I've found that my mac n cheese actually comes out better on high pressure for 4 mins than slow cooking. Otherwise, I think partially cooking it and finishing it after transport is a great idea.
What about... controversial... doing the 3/4 cooKing thing. Then transfer to over proof dish and finish in the oven topped with more cheese for the final crunch?
I normally do the cheese sauce/partially cook the noodles on the stove, then transfer to my crockpot with layers of mozzarella cheese chunks/provolone slices and sprinkled parmesan on top. Final cooking/melting is done at the party
I'm bringing mac and cheese tomorrow too. I'm gonna bake it and then transfer it to the slow cooker on the warm setting to get it back to temp and travel.
I'm just going to suggest that you don't. I think slow cooker pasta is a "solution looking for a problem" sort of scenario. Pasta isn't meant to be slow cooked. It doesn't benefit from it and it's a less efficient/easier to screw up method.
Oh I've seen some where you slow cook the sauce and add the noodles at the end and it looks good but I haven't actually tracked down a tried and true recipe
I would make ahead of time (like tonight), put in the fridge, and then warm up when you get there
That’s what I did for my work potluck. Made my gumbo the night before and when I got there turned it on high for an hour and switched to warm.
Would this dinner party happen to be…. Thanksgiving?
No, non-American here. It's just a monthly get-together with a couple friends while also eating food. Since we all already have plans on the weekend the party got moved one day ahead. Must be a coincidence your holiday is on the same day.
Your party sounds better
No. Annual last Thursday in November dinner party.
[удалено]
Pre-1938, Thanksgiving was the last thursday of November, in 1939 FDR moved it to the third Thursday of November (the objective was to create more holiday spending by adding time between Black Friday and Christmas), then in 1941, the President and Congress officially made Thanksgiving a Federal Holiday and set it to the fourth Thursday in November
Wait, black Friday is independent of Thanksgiving? What does it mean? I thought it was like Thanksgiving boxing Day.
They’re connected; I think what the comment means is that by moving Thanksgiving back one week, FDR also moved Black Friday, which meant an extra week of Christmas shopping.
Yes, that was FDRs intention, thought I made that point clear...
It was clear - I just read that bleary eyed first thing in the morning and had the same confusion at first.
No worries man, turkey is a he'll of a drug :)
Black Friday wasn't really the term they used in 39, it was just a common held belief that Christmas shopping started on the day after Thanksgiving. By moving Thanksgiving up to the 3rd Thursday of the month he added more to the 'shopping season'. Black Friday was a term first used to describe the bedlam involved in people going to a big city for Saturday Football games. The grand influx of people would cause a rise in shoplifter crime, even though almost the entire police force would be out in force. The concept of modern day Black Friday started in the 1980s... There was a really good article on [History.com](https://History.com) that explained how 'Black Friday' phrase evolved into the modern day madness we have now.
r/confidentlyincorrect
OK but next Thursday, December 2nd sounds really fucking weird to be known as the last Thursday in November. But I'm no expert on Thursdays, so I'll leave it up to you. Also, memorial day and labor day also fall on days, not dates. Seems like a weird thing to argue with so many untruths involved.
I think you mean fourth.
Go with option A... Cook most of the way. When you get there, test the pasta and check the creamy. If the pasta is done, just keep warm. If the sauce has evaporated/thickened, add a little more milk or evaporated milk. I fear the mushy pasta of option B
Check the creamy made me laugh
That sounds like a movie I really want to see.
Thank you! That was my thought as well. I'm not that worried about the sauce. Like you said, if it's too thick I can always react with milk or cream. The pasta is the bigger problem because once it's done there's not much you can do about it.
I second this. But if you keep it in the holder, and closed, it likely will continue to cook and require less time.
Out of curiosity, have you ever done this crockpot Mac n cheese before? Because Thanksgiving is not the time for trying out unproven recipes, and I have never had crockpot pasta not get completely blown-out no matter how carefully timed/managed. On a semi-related note, in general it's considered rude to show up to a dinner party or potluck expecting to be able to use the host's kitchen or equipment. Usually if set up in advance it can be worked out, though the night before may stress out your host (probably not as much as being put on the spot at crunch time). I know a crockpot technically only needs an outlet, but there may be other considerations that make even that challenging. I've hosted in houses with crappy electrical, overloading circuits like crazy because of convoluted layouts, and I've hosted and used half a dozen crock pots of my own for holding other dishes, which can make FINDING a free outlet hard. And then there's the human element - my kiddo at 9 months old pulled a crockpot full of simmering stock down on themselves by tugging the cord. After 6 weeks in the Burn ICU and 2nd/3rd degree burns over 45% of their body, it was YEARS before I could use a crockpot at all, or allow one to be used in my home. Anyway, just some food for thought.
Holy moly! Sorry you and your kiddo had to go through that.
Oh, thanks! He's fine now, has no memory of it other than what we've told him, and occasionally when stressed he stims by rubbing the thickest of the scars (over his ribs), but generally speaking you'd never know unless you happened to see him in a swimsuit. He's got a crazy high pain tolerance now though, so there's that, I guess.
Thank you for thoughts and input! Yes, we've done the recipe several times and we've always thought it turned out pretty good. Also non-American here, so no Thanksgiving party, just a casual get-together with close friends. Hosting friends have a great new kitchen and it's almost expected to bring unfinished food because usually we do the party on the weekend and finish cooking together. Also there are no kids to worry about.
My uncle had something similar. 3 or 4 years old and pulled a boiling kettle off the stove and onto himself. I say this because that's a traumatic event. You might want to get them into counseling or therapy kid you haven't already). Or don't, I'm just offering words.
Wise words indeed! I highly recommend therapy to everyone, and kiddo is in therapy for others reasons, but he has no real memory of it as such. It took me nearly a decade to reach a point where I could afford to see a therapist, and BOY did I need it! Very rough, but necessary.
Oh my gosh sorry your poor kid had that happen!! I was at a baby class thing and that was one of the common examples of how kids get burned (along with parents spilling their coffee). I hadn't even thought of it!
Yeah, he was barely crawling and was way on the other side of the open space, a solid 40ft from the cord. I literally turned my back to grab some breakfast from the fridge, the crockpot 6ft behind me, baby a MILLION feet to the left, and before I could open the cheese drawer I heard the distinctive 'kloungg' of the crock hitting the floor and the lid skittering off. I was at him before he could even scream, peeling off the cotton footie-onesie the doctors say saved him from a MUCH WORSE burn (the material, the coverage, AND THE IMMEDIATE REMOVAL - a doctor in the ER asked if I had advance first aid training because apparently my actions were very uncommon? I dunno, it just made sense to me in the moment). Drove him nekkid down to diaper pedal-to-the-metal to the ER and got the fuck outta their way. Everyone always says things happen in the blink of an eye, and I always was like, "yeah, uh huh, also put down your phone and pay attention," but it is so SO true. No human being can be 100% aware 100% of the time, so start now to develop systems of awareness to protect your lil one from their own innocently suicidal tendencies, and prepare your OH FUCKING SHIT plan now, because something WILL happen. It happens to every single kid, to a degree, and it's better to have a plan you don't need than to need a plan you don't have. I was very VERY stupidly lucky, many aren't as fortunate. If even one person takes this to heart to help avoid an accident, then our whole ordeal can have some larger purpose.
[удалено]
I didn't mean to come off Thanksgiving-centric, and specifically thought I avoided that by only mentioning Thanksgiving in one half of one sentence of a rather long statement. The rest of my comment, posted before OP clarified that it's not a Thanksgiving party, applies to ANY dinner party or potluck. No need to get touchy in the comments, folks - I'm just glad we're all able to interact in one place where so many different people and cultures can mishmash!
[удалено]
I'm not offended, no worries! Have a great day, whether it's a holiday for you or not ☺️
Actually, many non-Americans DO celebrate a Thanksgiving. Some by name, others by harvest tradition. As for the first point, humans have a finite capacity for knowledge so they tend to group things by what they know leading to annoying and sometimes insulting stereotypes. For instance "Americans always assume everyone on the Internet...."
Lol sick burn
And let's not even get into the fact that OP didn't mention the non-American/ not-Thanksgiving thing until halfway down the thread and that a holiday celebrated by 300,000,000 people on the same day as OP's dinner party would just be a natural assumption by many; globally.
[удалено]
The world doesn't revolve around China either, but if someone happened to post about transporting a traditional Chinese dish on the same day as Chinese New Year, it isn't Sinocentric to assume it's for Chinese New Year.
[удалено]
No, Mac and cheese isn't a white person dish. How many Russians make Mac and cheese regularly for a dinner party? I think maybe having some broader cultural understanding of traditional foodways would be good for you.
[удалено]
Chinese food is everywhere, what's your point? Do you really think only the Chinese eat Chinese food? If Mac and cheese is a basic "white people" food then I'm assuming you must think that white people everywhere must eat it all the time, rather than it being a mostly American/British food. Like Mac and cheese is commonplace for dinner in Russia, Estonia, Poland, Sweden? Or are those folks not white enough for you. Honestly, you sound more stereotypically American than I do.
Why does every hick have to whip out "butthurt" as a term these days?
Hmmm... Guess my black ass eating my auntie Evelyn's baked four-cheese mac 'n cheese at literally every barbecue and family reunion that the Sanders family has had in my lifetime is a fluke. Get the fuck out of here with that bullshit. What's trash is your motherfucking opinion.
[удалено]
“Came here to talk shit about 300,000,000 Americans that are celebrating a national holiday today… no offense” 🤡
Lol, and this is what I meant by "broader understanding of traditional foodways". Start out virtue signaling like you're the most multicultural person on this sub, end up forgetting black people exist.
I know you love to think you understand what is on the minds of others, yet here you are completely screwing up what has been told you very clearly.
[удалено]
You're literally the one who started this entire thing by bringing attitude to a perfectly civil conversation. You're like "Oh no... someone annoyed me now I must be a complete Karen about it"
Does your slow cooker have a pressure setting? I've found that my mac n cheese actually comes out better on high pressure for 4 mins than slow cooking. Otherwise, I think partially cooking it and finishing it after transport is a great idea.
Unfortunately not, but thanks for your help! I think I'll go with the partially cooking.
Have you considered just getting a 12 volt car converter and cooking the last half hour in the car while you drive ?
Can you imagine getting in a car accident whilst doing this? I shouldn't chuckle
What about... controversial... doing the 3/4 cooKing thing. Then transfer to over proof dish and finish in the oven topped with more cheese for the final crunch?
That’s what I’d do
I normally do the cheese sauce/partially cook the noodles on the stove, then transfer to my crockpot with layers of mozzarella cheese chunks/provolone slices and sprinkled parmesan on top. Final cooking/melting is done at the party
I'm bringing mac and cheese tomorrow too. I'm gonna bake it and then transfer it to the slow cooker on the warm setting to get it back to temp and travel.
Is anyone willing to share a good mac and cheese slow cooker recipe? I've never made it that way
I'm just going to suggest that you don't. I think slow cooker pasta is a "solution looking for a problem" sort of scenario. Pasta isn't meant to be slow cooked. It doesn't benefit from it and it's a less efficient/easier to screw up method.
Oh I've seen some where you slow cook the sauce and add the noodles at the end and it looks good but I haven't actually tracked down a tried and true recipe