Upsides to the Down Economy/ Memories in a Blue and Yellow Box

I just returned from Key West for "The Hungry Muse", a literary seminar about food writing. When members of one panel were asked to name the one food that reminded them of their childhood, the food they requested be brought to them when living overseas, it was that humble, processed food in a blue and yellow box- Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. Even renowned food humorist Calvin Trillin, who claimed all his mother ever made was leftovers and "the original meal has never been found" insisted on purchasing some at the grocery store for his wife, Alice to prepare. When she did, he discovered it didn't taste as it had in his memory until he ate it the next day. Turns out his mother had been serving him leftover macaroni and cheese as well. In my childhood, my father was an airline pilot and we could always tell when he was away by the dinner my Mom made. Kraft macaroni and cheese, with sauteed ham slices (from a can) and sliced beefsteak tomatoes, was a 'Dad's on a flight" meal and one that I loved. Jane and Michael Stern, authors of Square Meals and other books about American cuisine, recommend using real butter (not margarine) and doubling the cheese packets, for "stupendous" results. I don't know about that, but for a trip down memory lane, there isn't a cheaper or easier yellow brick road, than good ole Kraft Macaroni and Cheese.