5-Minute Mac & Cheese for Snow Storm Moments

Not exactly an asian dish, but after making it through our third big snow storm of the year, one can only think of preparing a fast and gratifying meal. I think I just spent 2 hours shoveling about 2 feet of snow off of our balcony and helping out a couple of friends clearing out their driveway. Solidarity comes in full force during these Montreal snowy times. Believe it or not, I don't mind shoveling snow this year, especially when I've been slacking off so much lately, and it's a great way to workout in the fresh outdoors. The crisp and frigid air makes my cheeks turn rosy, giving me a healthy glow which appeases my guilty conscience about my lack of physical exercises.

After my strenuous snow-shoveling drill, my body was aching and screaming for carbohydrates. There is nothing more fulfilling than a nice bowl of pasta, like Mac & Cheese...especially when it takes only 5 minutes to make. And of course, I'm not referring to Kraft Mac & Cheese, but a real homemade Mac & Cheese recipe. It's incredibly easy and simple to make that I can literally prepare it with my eyes closed. Plus, the fact that it's all about fresh ingredients, there is no guilty conscience to hang on to. And unlike other recipes I've tried where the pasta turned out lumpy and dry, this one's really creamy.

Recipe "au pif":
2 1/2 - 3 cups of pasta of your choice (macaroni, spaghetti..etc.)
1/2 cup of heavy cream (I prefer using Country Style 15% cream, which has the rich texture of regular 35% heavy cream, but with less fat)
1 cup of cheese of your choice (cheddar, gorgonzola, swiss...even Velveeta is great!)
1 tsp coarse sea salt (optional)
1 cup boiling water for every cup of pasta
Chopped parsley (optional)

Boil pasta in water and salt until Al Dente (cooked firm, not hard). Drain water and let the pasta relax for a couple of minutes.

Slowly heat the cream on medium-high heat in a medium-sized pan. Add in the cheese, stir until all melted and velvety.

Add in the pasta and stir well so that the pasta is covered entirely with the cheese sauce.

Garnish with parsley.

Makes 2 servings for hard-working snow-shovelers.

Serve warm and devour!