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Ree Drummond from The Pioneer Woman enjoys making great homestyle foods for her family in Oklahoma. Although the former city loves dining out, she uses her comfort food recipes when serving her husband, Ladd Drummond, and their children on the ranch. In addition to her renowned steak and delicious casseroles, Drummond’s macaroni and cheese recipes resonate with some of her fans. However, many might not know that she uses a special ingredient while making the popular side dish. 

Ree Drummond smiles while in a blue blouse
Ree Drummond in 2017 | Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Hearst

The reason ‘The Pioneer Woman’ star Ree Drummond uses mustard in her macaroni and cheese

Since 2011, many Food Network viewers have become familiar with Drummond and her cooking show, The Pioneer Woman. At the same time, she had a strong following through her food blog of the same name. Drummond launched the blog in 2006 to better connect with people who live in rural communities. However, she soon reached audiences from all over the world and became a household name.

Throughout the years, Drummond has connected with her fans on her show and other platforms. In addition to her blog, many of The Pioneer Woman’s recipes are available on the Food Network website. One of Drummond’s most popular recipes is her macaroni and cheese. According to the site, the dish takes 55 minutes to cook, including the 15-minute prep time. The ingredients for the mac and cheese contain items such as whole eggs, cheddar cheese, and dry mustard. While some food lovers wouldn’t think of using dry mustard in their macaroni and cheese, Drummond suggests adding a small amount of it for a different kick.

“I love this ingredient in macaroni and cheese,” The Pioneer Woman wrote on her blog. “It provides a tangy sharpness without injecting a definable flavor.”

Ree Drummond adds bacon grease to her macaroni and cheese on special occasions

On her blog, Drummond gushes about her love for macaroni and cheese. In one post, she said the cheesy pasta was one of the only things she ate as a child. As her taste buds developed, The Pioneer Woman found new ways to reinvent her favorite food. 

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‘The Pioneer Woman’: Ree Drummond Shared Why She Prefers Baking Over Cooking

In Dec. 2009, Drummond introduced her readers to her “fancy macaroni” recipe. According to her blog, the macaroni includes bacon and caramelized onions. The Pioneer Woman also used four different kinds of cheese- gruyere, fontina, grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, and Chevre (soft Goat Cheese). To top off the macaroni and cheese, Drummond used bacon grease. On the website, she recommended serving mac and cheese during special occasions like the holiday season. 

“Make this sometime over the holidays,” she suggested to her readers. “Serve it on Christmas Eve with your roast beef. Serve it the day after Christmas with a big Caesar salad. Eat it straight out of the pan after you’ve wrapped your last gift at 11:47 on Christmas Eve. It’s Fancy Macaroni. You want it in your life.”

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