For us, if I heat it to 178/180, it has always worked. I add the starter at 115ish. Smokerbill does 115-120.
Well, instead of pasta, use a potato.
Wash a larger potato and cook most of the way in microwave.
Do a red sauce (any jar pasta/spagetti sauce on sale!). First saute onions for a few minutes in olive oil, then add veggies of choice in order of how dense they are. Ex. you would add sliced carrots (can add a bit of natural sweetness) Before you would add a zucchini type (cooks in 3 min). Add sliced/diced garlic if desired, or just powder. When veggies are almost done, add red sauce and spices and cook on low until all heated. Top w cheese at the end, turn off heat put lid on, to melt the cheese. If you don't have a lid, use a plate.
Heat the potato to finish, cut open and top with your red sauce veggie mixture. Add more cheese if desired, we really like cheese.
Golly you can use any veggies (even kale, spinach, chard etc) and spice as you like. A little hot pepper, the sky is the limit.
You can also cook some ground beef and add that. Many times I purposely cook double/triple the amount of ground beef and then package it to freeze, so I have a portion ready w/o having to cook it. I just under cook it a little.
but I admittedly actually love the stuff but I love real Mac too LOL maybe sometime I could make some!!!!!!!!!!!!!!No, say it ain't so, a box?I am currently making Mac & cheese LOL unfortunately from a box
Oh well, you can dress up Mac with stuff also. Remember, expand your horizons.I call that a tuna casserole! I didn't use boxed but did use a velveeta/cheese whiz type cheese. We began a couple of years ago to get away from ultra processed foods...can't all the time. I have a couple of dishes that just don't come out the same without using it. Oh well, it tastes really good.
YesNo, say it ain't so, a box?
You had me until peas LOL
I should probably get away from it myself. At least a little bit LOL I’ve been trying to eat more fruits and vegetables.
I’ve been doing well on the fruit lately 
I rig up a double boiler and heat it to around 190° then cool it down to the 115-120° and add the starter. Maybe I'll try heating to a lower temp, like 183 or so. I use just regular, cheap store bought whole pasteurized milk. The yogurt's not great consistency, but still good for my gut I think.
I could never give up Kraft Mac and Cheese. So good, and easy!
Have you ever tried frozen peas? Or snow peas (in thin pod)? Canned peas are mushy (everyone's personal choice) but frozen are firm with texture.Yes
You had me until peas LOL
I should probably get away from it myself. At least a little bit LOL I’ve been trying to eat more fruits and vegetables.
