Macaroni for Coxy's Army

We used to tease Gramma Appleby about how much food she cooked when we came to visit. We always told her she cooked for the proverbial Coxy's army - you know, that ragtag group of soldiers who marched on Washinton to protest the economic depression?

Lord have mercy, to a stringbean kid like me, Gram's table, groaning under huge beef roasts, fresh tomatoes and corn from the garden, slabs of bread and butter, mounds of potatoes, was the feast of the century. Gramp's rule was, you could have ALL you wanted, as long as you ate what you took. Not that we didn't eat at home, but with so many kids you had lots of competition for the favorite dishes.

Well, Robotics Club requires all parents to ante up for a meal - enough to feed twenty. I asked Drew what the other parents were bringing, and his response (complete with rolled eyes) was, "We are so tired of pizza and fast food. Please, please, please make the macaroni and cheese that Gramma Morton makes. Please."

How could I resist his pleading brown eyes (staring straight down at me from his towering 5'11"). So I went home at noon to cook mac and cheese the old fashioned way. I threw in some cornbread, carrots, applesauce, oranges, and chocolate chip cookies for good measure. Then of course, came the logistics of keeping it warm without drying it out, figuring out how to carry four casserole dishes without spilling anything, and getting it all carried up three flights of stairs!

I called Drew as I was pulling into the parking lot. "What took you so long? We're all starving!" Typical. I delivered my wares and drove home, too tired to eat anything myself. Good thing I don't have to cook for twenty on a regular basis, especially on a lunch break!