Comfort Food Origins: Mac and Cheese!
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- Опубликовано: 20 авг 2024
- Macaroni and Cheese is a comfort food that we see regularly on our dinner tables and at barbecues. This is easily one of the best dishes we have ever made on the channel. As we dug into the research, we couldn't believe how far back we could trace Mac and Cheese!
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Thomas jefferson trying to introduce mac and cheese to the Americas: "i guess you weren't ready for that, but your kids are gonna love it"
Great Scott!
Marty!!!
:0
"Chuck! Chuck, it's Marvin. Your cousin, Marvin. Hey, you know that new flavor you're looking for? Well, taste this!"
isnt he the one that said 'the acquisition of canada this year will be a mere matter of marching' lol
now his descendants are mexican irish africans and they press 2 for spanish
I believe it was specifically John Hemings who brought back a lot of the recipes to the US, including macaroni and cheese. He was Jefferson's chef and he accompanied Jefferson to France. He trained there as a chef extensively before returning back to the US. He is also the brother of Sally Hemings.
A much more reasonable comment and a fair criticism than the "Oh my god, Jefferson shouldn't get the credit for the sequence of events discussed in the video because he didn't cook the mac and cheese himself" weirdos in the comments. If there are specific records and mentions of Jefferson's chef in regards to the introduction of mac and cheese in America and his role is understood to be of historical significance in the evolution of this dish, it definitely should have been discussed in the video. That story is relevant not only from an event based historical perspective but also from a sociological one.
There are definitely specific records of all of the things that are stated, and there is even a foundation for the recognition of James hemmings. If you are interested in learning about the work of African Americans in American food history, I would recommend the work of Michael Twitty
I love the fact that Jefferson served macaroni and cheese at a state dinner. That is simply awesome. If I ever became President I would definitely do that.
Invite me!
@@bobelliott2748 Lol will do!
Sure beats serving cold mcdonalds and for reason being proud of it
Benjamison Franklinson notoriously called it 'Thee delight of thee Devyll'
@@RicoDuroska Wtf are you talking about lol
We need to use "cast upon" in our recipes more.
This is like "Behooves" from officers in the military. We must find a way to insert this phrase into all recipes.
yes! love your comment!
"Cast it into the fire!" gets used in my kitchen.
I would buy that cook book.
Absolutely!😊
Their production quality looks better than most documentaries
I would loooove a Townsends produced documentary on something history related
It sorta is because the recipes are from the 1800s and they explain it so well
LifeOfBoris is really similar to Townsend, but more Slav.
@@moralebooster8437 Same here. I'd gladly edit it, even, if given the chance.
@@moralebooster8437Their whole channel is history related, haven't you watched the video?? They made a Mac & Cheese like we would never do it today, but instead how people did it 500 years ago. If that isn't "history related", then I don't know what is.
Edit: Or are you talking about historic events?
From what little I understand, pasta was one of the major sources of carbs in England and many European countries right up until potatoes were introduced. Then, for some reason, potatoes became so popular that pasta all but disappeared from English cuisine for centuries until it was reintroduced again from Italy and became popular after WW2. It's weird how those things happen.
To be fair, potatoes are way easier and more accessible in a pre-industrialized society than pasta. They're easier and more productive to grow, and cooking is a much simpler process
@@mrmayortheivyou could also cook potatoes in a multitude of different ways.
I doubt it, as the major use of grain seems more likely to have been bread and/or porridge (at least from what I know). Even more so in areas, such as Scotland, Scandinavia and other part of Northern Europe, where rye and oats were important staples prior to the introduction of potatoes.
Pasta, especially without a pasta rolling machine is a very labor intensive process. On the upside it requires very few ingredients and can be made with fairly course ground flour.
Italy grew different, harder wheat than northern Europe. Wheat traditionally grown in Britain does not make good pasta. Even now, almost all our pasta is made in Italy, dried and exported here.
It was introduced here in the 1700s by the rich young men who had leisure and money to travel to Italy but was a luxury. Later, it became cheaper and a staple. My grandmother ate it regularly in the 1880s, she then cooked macaroni cheese and macaroni pudding for my mother and uncles in the 1920s, as nursery food - easy to eat whereas grown up could manage spaghetti linguine etc. So did we kids, in the 50s. My own children were lucky, I ditched the hated macaroni pudding, but we all still vie to make the best macaroni cheese, it's a competitive sport in my family. Even my 7 year old grandson has invented his own, cook from scratch recipe. We don't understand why it is sold in boxes in the US, it is so easy to make your own and change your recipe slightly according to what you have in the pantry or fridge.
If anyones interested in the recipe he read at the start, I believe "Tasting History with Max Miller" covered it. It was almost a lasagan like John said!
Thanks for that!
When I go to the trouble of making 'Home made', I like to add some crumbled bacon and chunks of sweet pork breakfast sausage. No offence to the vegetarian option, I make that too. Cheese is good!... 😻
@@mikeskelly2356 There is nothing wrong with putting bacon in anything.
Mmm, bacon in aspic with raisins...@@Jethu262
@@townsendsvictorian England people eat mac and cheese, not just 1700s usa people.
Funnily enough, here in Scotland we have a spiritual descendant of this dish, Macaroni Pie! Typically a quick, cheap takeaway option. It's normally fairly basic Mac and Cheese in a Scotch Pie style hotwater crust, baked and served hot in bakeries. They're a little derided these days as a simplistic food of just carbs and fat with little nutritional value, but seeing you make this recipe has me curious if there's a lineage that leads us from Frasier's recipe to a modern Macaroni Pie. It would definitely overturn a perception that they're a fairly modern poverty food.
Good morning, and happy Father's Day to all the dads out there! (And all the Founding Fathers, too.)
Watching Townsends is my comfort food
Ain't that a truth tho
The entire world: bickering over meaningless things.
*John Townsend: I love the history of Mac and cheese.
God bless you John
Jon I just want to tell you how much your channel has meant to me over these past years. My life has completely become unpredictable, difficult and an absolute mess. Your channel is very comforting and informative and interesting to me, and I always come back to it.
I hope it settles down for you. God bless you.
❤
I hope you're doing better now.
I know what you mean. I’ve been going through some things and feeling depressed and this channel is comforting to me. Hope things are better for you now.
Macaronis were primarily wealthy young men who had taken the Grand Tour, that is, spent six months or more traveling around to the great cultural centers of Europe, learning languages, seeing the notable sights, soaking up culture, and becoming adult men. Like young men of any age, they came home very full of themselves and obsessed with the new fads and fashions that they picked up on their travels. The song Yanky Doodle Dandy that British soldiers sang to lampoon the Colonial army, says "he stuck a feather in his hat and called it macaroni," to suggest that American men were so ignorant and backward that they actually thought sticking a turkey feather in their hat band would make them look sophisticated.
Thank you, I never really understood that song. 😂 I love the back story.
Unfortunately for those lads, many of them also picked up diseases from their fun with lasses and lads alike.
Mind blown
@@tatianaes3354 Sadly, true.
Thanks for sharing this. I kinda thought that Jon was leaving a bit of the story of the Macaroni Club on the table.😂
I remember the 1784 one you did 5 years ago. I didn't realise it was over 500 years old but if the original is Italian it makes sense.
According to Wikipedia and other sites mac and cheese is from 14th century England
From what I've gathered, *pasta* and cheese was recorded an Italian cookbook in 1314, and in an English cookbook in 1390. But specifically **macaroni** and cheese was first attributed to an English cookbook in 1769.
Could you guys do a video on "snacks"? I know most of the working class may not have had that option, but could you research what would have been available if you were sick and didn't have time to cook or your child was screaming at you before mealtime? Apples come to mind, but what else could they have grabbed in a hurry? Thank you for all of your content. ❤
Strange notion these days, leftovers. Either cold or hot.
it always amazes me that we are so into "snacks" in the last 50-60 years. It usually wasn't done before that. If they had fruit or left overs, yes they would eat that but I do believe most regular people just dealt with being hungry between meals if they had enough food to have regular meals.
Samuel Pepys often comments that he would "clap a bit of meat in my mouth" when he is in a hurry. Brawn was also a popular snack with some bread. Biscuits with wine. Lunch wasnt a thing so you would just snatch a bit of whatever was going. Bread and cheese,or a bit of tart or leftover meat.
@@pheart2381The reason lunch was not a thing in Pepys time is because dinner was eaten between 11 am and 1 pm. It's breakfast and supper that were different to today.
Lunch was invented in the 19th century. It was a meal eaten by housewives because their husbands were in the city doing business at dinner time, slowly dinner increasingly got eaten in the evening, and lunch became a meal for men as well, by about 1890.
Yankee Doodle went to town
Riding on a pony
Stuck a feather in his cap
And called it macaroni
Yankee Doodle keep it up
Yankee Doodle dandy
Mind the music and the step
And with the girls, be handy
I am just very thankful this channel exists. Love this content
I love how everything in the 18th century was a pie or had pie crust involved
pie crust began as a moisture retainer and a delivery vehicle for whatever was inside it. Originally it wasn't even meant to be eaten. At least, in medieval times.
Could've used a hint of nutmeg and mushroom ketsup xD
Speaking of comforts, I found this channel at the beginning of the pandemic. I was so anxious, afraid, and worried all the time. But watching these videos made me feel so calm and grounded. Thank you so much for being a wholesome channel that also connects us to the past in the best way. Your positivity has meant everything to me and, I know, to so many others as well. Thank you 😊
My recipe is, more Marconi, more Cheese.. More Cheese.... More Cheese.
Is this from that one episode of courage the cowardly dog
I think this is the channel I’ve been watching for the longest time and the most consistently. I discovered you all in 2012…. I’m so glad you’re still going!
You should do an episode while dressed in the Macaroni style.
Oh, this would be fantastic!
a Zoot Suit will do the job!
"I had an onion hanging from my belt which was the style of the time. "
Feather in cap (Yankee Doodle)?
Stick a feather 🪶 in his cap and call it macaroni
😉
Macaroni pie. Very popular in Scotland
Since the discovery of flour, we've had "pasta". In Sweden, where I live, we never bothered to make it thin. Fist-sized lumps boiled, sometimes filled with pork and or/fish. It's still eaten today, and it's wonderful!
When potatoes arrived, you bet your ass we were making fist-sized balls and boiling it. We already knew it would be a win!
Kams, palt, call it what you like, it's glorious! Swerved with a slightly sour lingonberry jam/jelly. Want to try?
But this recipe with the macaronis boiled in cream or milk shares a lot with Swedish stuvade makaroner (stewed macaronis). Basically just macaronis boiled in milk, flavoured with pepper and nutmeg and served alongside meatballs or sausages.
"It pops up in 14th century Italian cookbooks" your playing a dangerous game here, John.
Don't threaten 1700s Bob Ross
Mac and cheese, my beloved food. Few are moments so profound that they change the course and direction in one's life than now that I know even but a little of this 'macaroni club'. It has sparked a great intrigue and curiosity anew. Cheers!
Thank you for your kind support!
Certainly and thank you. I've since made it twice already though the first time I forgot to bake it. Even so, it was still quite enjoyable. 😄
After some testing over these last few months, I've found that when they say reduce the milk, they really mean to reduce the milk potentially up until it becomes a thick roux like consistency between the excess noodle starches and the milk fats. It does get a fair bit softer though I feel that's mainly when adding things like tomato or spinach that are really watery that it softens more than anything. When I've done this with just cheese, I'm pretty sure it's still quite crunchy after baking even so.
The Italian composer Rossini was a major fan of macaroni. There's a story where he visited the pasta shop of Canaveri.
"So that's it?," Rossini said, "If you don't have any Neapolitan macaroni, I don't want to know anything else. Good day!"
Canaveri asked Rossini's friend, "Who was that?"
Rossini's friend answered, "Do you know who that gentleman is? Rossini, the composer."
"Rossini?," Canaveri answered, "Never heard of him. But if he knows as much about music as he does about macaroni, he must write well!"
My Neapolitan grandparents immigrated to the U.S.A., and I never heard them use the word "pasta" unless it was "pasta fazool". They made "macaroni" or else called it by the shape. Same with my parents.
its easy to forget that you are mimicking the old life style..you do a great job.thank you..from old salem, winston-salem n.c.
I know most people
love mac and cheese but I had no idea it was over 500 years old. Also I am sure many people make it in different ways and different pasta
"The earliest mention that we have of pasta and cheese being joined together dates back as far as 160 BCE, when Marcus Porcius Cato, ultraconservative senator of the then Roman Republic, wrote his treatise on running a vast country estate, De Agri Cultura. In it, he included a few recipes for ritual gatherings and holidays that bring together what could be construed as pasta and fresh cheese. “Placenta” (pronounced with a hard c) is one of those. It was made with layers of cheese packed between stacked sheets of whole grain dough."
Mutchkin is a very comforting word
Soooo, what IS a mutchkin?
This kept me an escape from my subway ride from work. Thank you.
Figured that 500 year old dish would have more mold on it.
Either the universe or yourube has apparently deemed that i should cook some mac 'n cheese with all the suggestions. But if townsends is doin it, well, then imma have to make some. :D
In reference to the guy who disapproved of jefferson's mac 'n cheese, i think we found the british spy.
Honestly this is the kind of thing i wish was on TV or could be learned in school. It's awesome to be able to look back in time and see how people lived.
Ah! One of my absolute favourites! Cheers, Townsends!
"Yankee Doodle went to town a-riding on a pony, stuck a feather in his cap, and called it Macaroni!" 🙂Thanks for another wonderful video Jon!
This is one of those Townsends videos that makes me thankful I found this channel.
Anyone who wants to make this the most authentic way possible might want to try a good clothbound cheddar (like Cabot) as that is the way cheddar was produced back then. Parmigiano Reggiano might also have been a cheese wealthier folks used as it was highly regarded as the finest cheese. Good Parm is fantastic in this dish. Use Gouda though if you want a classic "fruity/sweet" flavor. Lots of people kept goats back then so an average farmer mightve made this dish with goat cheddar or something like Manchego.
What a wonderful episode for today & Happy Father’s Day to all the amazing Papa’s out there! ❤
Just in time for me to sleep to, thanks for being an amazing channel ❤
I like fresh grated nutmeg in my bechamel sauce. In addition, mustard and sour cream are great things to add to macaroni and cheese. Thanks for sharing this. Cheers!
I started adding mustard powder to mine. I’ll often use a block of cream cheese, but sour cream could probably work just as well if I had a different soft cheese. Oh, I’m excited.
You are my comfort channel Townsends. Never change my guy!
I’m always amazed as to how he finds the old food preserved in such pristine condition
When i looked at 18th century, i see it as a boring history. But these videos changed all of my view. It's nice to see the wonderful way people cook back in the day...
Too many history teachers ruin history. Just as too many English teachers ruin great literature.
Love your history of cooking series, its' helped me understand some of our favorite old family recipies and the origins..whether gingerbread cookies to the poor farmers feast and many more..I grew up hearing its' an old family recipie, from your Grandmother or Great Grandmother..now I understand possibly how and why they came up with these recipies.
"The cheese is grate" 😂 Loved this video, tfs ❤
So this is where Dominos got the idea for the pasta bowls?
Never commented before, have watched you off and on for near a decade. Thank you, sir. Your content is just wholesome good quintessential comfort to my soul.
Forget comfort food, this is my comfort channel ❤
One of my absolute favorite meals to this day… I gotta try this.
incredibly heartwarming and comfy content, love it!
I always love to see you cooking and explaining how it ties in historically Jon. I'm so glad that I found your channel when you only had about 10k subs. I remember when you nervously asked us if we wanted channel memberships or if we were okay with you enabling ads on the channel. Keep up all of the great content!!!
I love a cold spring! Looks like a magical place to have coffee. Thanks for an amazing video.
Max Miller actually made the Cheese Lasagna version and yes, it was exactly what you thought, Mr Townsend!
man this is a really cool channel, not normally my thing, but love how much this man seems to enjoy doing this, which makes me wanna try.
"it's got lots of butter, it has to be good"
Man after my own heart!
So glad to hear the surgery went well!! Praying for you and Megatron! Heal fast!
My favorite anecdote of Thomas Jefferson(not sure of the accuracy) is how another member of Congress tried to introduce a rule saying Jefferson could not eat macaroni and cheese during meetings because it was gross.
*”Hmm. I must declare, I’m quite fond of said Mac’ N’ Cheese…”*
- probably Tom Jeff, 18th Century
always so cozy watching townsends its almost like bringing yourself back to your childhood
Love your videos! Thanks for the time and love you pour into them, it shows!
Now I need to find a linguist to tell me why Macaroni, the pasta, Macaroni, the style, Macaron, the cookie, and Macaroons, the sweet, are all linguistically similar, but completely different things.
I think people just like to say "macaroni."
Great episode! In classic Italian cuisine, pies and timbales of macaroni with cheese were popular, often using puff pastry. The most elaborate is the "timbalo" which uses sheets of pasta dough as the crust, then baked and the the whole thing is inverted resembling a giant dome or tympani drum..hence the name. Sometimes these "pies" were actually sweet..with raisins, cinnamon and of course, nutmeg.😊
My mother, a kiwi girl born and raised in new zealand of the 1950s and 60s, had never even eaten pasta let alone Mac n Cheese until she moved to the states with my American father in the late 60s. Pasta in new zealand then just wasn't a thing. Hearing that alway blew my mind.
It was an exotic Italian thing to many Americans of the time, too.
Thanks, Jon, for bringing these types of receipts back to life. Happy Father's Day!
6:45 "Yankee doodle went to town, riding on a pony.
Stuck a feather in his cap, and called it 'macaroni!'"
More important than ever atm to learn how to make this. Ever since packaged mac 'n' cheese has been found to have extremely toxic chemicals that are directly responsible for cancers, obesity and death, I've become even more worries abt the crap I by from the store. can't wait to have a garden. TY Towns gonna start making recipes from your channel cause peasant/the middle class working American mans food was so wholesome and healthy back in the colonial era. :D
My mouth is watering at the sight. 😊
This channel brings me peace
That pompous dinner guest at the state dinner wasn't impressed.
But I keep wanting to try John's dish every time they do a close up
Yankee Doodle went to town riding on a pony,,, stuck a feather in his cap and called it macaroni....😂😂😂❤
As we say in Holland:
Macaroni is maar een kapstok voor kaas.
My new favorite channel ❤
I remember seeing macaroni snd cheese pie and thought it was so creative and new, who knew it's been around forever!!
Nothing is better than Mac&cheese cooking videos. No matter when they are from.
Just loved this episode - thank you !
3:25 the use of white pepper is interesting to me. was it popular at the time, at least compared to black pepper? i've only ever seen white peppercorns at the local asian market
Some prefer white pepper instead of black when makeing a white sauce so that it doesn't change the colour. Would guess that it is the reason
White pepper and cheese go well together👍
@@kaspershaupt Is there a difference in taste of the peppers themselves?
@@shannondore the difference can be noticeable, but is not big. Don't think it really matters other then the color
*Orgin* is *Germany in Swabia close to Austria border region.*
> THIS is *Käse Spätzle* and is mentioned *14th century* 1st ever cookbook in Germany, on top bookprinting was also invented by germans.
*Käsespätzle (German for "spätzle with cheese",*
also called Käsknöpfle in Vorarlberg and Liechtenstein or Kasspatzln in Tyrol) is a traditional dish of the German regions of Swabia, Baden and Allgäu, and also in the Austrian regions Vorarlberg and Tyrol, as well as Liechtenstein and Switzerland.
MAC AND CHEESE IN A BREAD BOWL..YUM!!
so old timey macaroni is just normal baked macaroni but with a bread bowl lmao. im surprised the recipe is that old but i guess the idea of mixing some cream, butter, cheese and pasta together just came naturally to italian.
The recipe: use a little of White peppers
He:ok... procedes to put black pepper.
He put a feather in his hat and called it macaroni
Townsends is my internet comfort food.
The fact that not one single actual "maccherone" was shown in this video is hilarious
Thanks for this, the ol' mac and cheese is such a quintessential dish. Cheap, easy to throw together and is comforting for the vast majority of people everywhere. I love your work as a lifelong professional modern cook and looking to get into the old ways. Simpler times. 1700s of what is now US is my favorite period of history.
To elaborate on the "macaroni club" a bit: It was what they called what might have been the first mass (-ish) tourist movement to come out of england. Upper-class young adults would vacation in italy and bring what they thought was italian fashion and taste with them back home, where of course they would be mercilessly mocked for it :P.
is it not amazing that's such a simple recipe now it's so expensive due to the fact of the cost of Parmesan cheese and all the cheeses needed to make such a beautiful recipe. As well as butter. Years ago that ordinary people are using in there every day cooking. Thank you for present in your research.
I am very hungry now after watching the video
Cast upon, set aside, send forth!
great one my man, good job for you and your team
Love this channel
😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣...I just made homemade mac and cheese with Andouille tonight for dinner. Great minds think alike.😂😂😂😂
When you think about it, this recipe makes complete sense:
The starch from the pasta and the milk makes a sauce similar to a bechamel and by adding cheese, you get a mornay sauce.
So this is like a simplified maccarony and cheese recipe with less steps because you cook the pasta while making the sauce. 😜
Well suddenly the bit in the children's song about Yankee Doodle's feather makes more sense. Also, that dish sounds wonderful.
when referring to people "macaroni" can be synonymous with being "foppish" or being a "confirmed bachelor" or a "dandy", in other words, it was a "nice" way of calling someone a homosexual.
I love that the original doesn't say to make a cheese sauce separately! So my family mac n cheese is very close to this historic recipe.😊
I don't care for mac and cheese, but this actually looks way way better.
Dang 500 years. Can't go wrong with a bowl of mac n cheese. Of course unless you're lactose intolerant. But even those people will still eat it.
Of all the dished I'd have guessed are 500 years old -- that is not the one. Learn something new every day.