The New and Improved Mac and Cheese recipe

I saw a similar recipe on Americas Test Kitchen...(love that show) so I snagged it and just changed it a bit. It is so yummy and oozy usually I don't care for mac and cheese but found my self scrapping the plate trying to get all the cheese off my plate. So here you are
First cook your pasta...I use 1lb of elbows...but sometimes mix up with different shapes for the kids


Cook pasta according to box directions
When straining the water out reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water  and set aside.
Rinse pasta with cold water to stop the cooking

Sauce Ingredients
1 stick of butter...that's right I use a whole stick of the good stuff...don't try dieting while eating this baby.
3 Tbsp of flour....I use white whole wheat
3 cans of evaporated milk
1 1/2 tsp of hot sauce
1 1/2 tsp of mustard
2 tsp of nutmeg
2 cups of extra sharp cheddar.....this is where you can change to a different kind of you favorite
1 bag of shredded Monterrey jack cheese....it's a great cheese to make sauce because it hold well under the heat for melting
1/2 of American cheese..buy at the deli..ask for it in block shape not sliced
1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water

In a large sauce pot melt butter then whisk in flour. Boil for 1 minute, until light brown.
Then pour in evaporated milk, hot sauce, mustard, nutmeg, all the while whisking together.
Now start adding cheeses, start with the Monterrey to get a great base, then American, then your cheddar...keep whisking when all melted together add in your pasta water that you had set aside. Salt to your taste.
Place pasta in your casserole dish pour cheese sauce over and mix well. Place in oven 350 for 20 minutes
Meanwhile take bread throw in it the food processor, with 3 to 4 tbsp of melted butter. When crumbs are ready remove casserole from the oven pour crumbs evenly over place back in oven and switch to broil, and broil to golden brown....hint keep a close eye because in a blink of an eye you could burn it in this stage.
Enjoy....Let me know if you tried it would love to hear feedback good or bad.

Old favorite new ideas..mmmm

I came across this article and knew I had to share. I love Smores. S'mores are one of those treats that you never grow too old for. You loved them as a child, roasting the marshmallows over the bonfire at camp, and, as an adult, they still melt your heart (and taste buds).

And, though the classic graham cracker/marshmallow/chocolate concoction is nearly impossible to improve upon, there are still several other s'mores varieties that are definitely worth reaching for that stick..


The Elvis: The King made the peanut butter, bacon, and banana sandwich famous (sounds gross, but it's actually very good), so a s'mores version is graham crackers, peanut butter cup, marshmallow, and a banana slice. No bacon -- one of the few times that I don't think bacon would make it better.

Grasshopper: Graham crackers, Andes mints, and marshmallow.

Turtle: You've had turtle tracks ice cream, right? Same idea. Just add caramel and chopped pecans to the original s'more.

Oreo: Chocolate graham crackers, marshmallow, white chocolate, and Oreo crumbles.

Caribbean: Get a taste of the tropics with a Caribbean-themed s'more made of graham crackers, marshmallow, caramel, and coconut.

PB&J: The old-school favorite with a s'more twist -- graham crackers, marshmallow, peanut butter, and jelly.

Fruit Burst: Add your favorite fruits to the classic -- strawberries (my favorite), blueberries, cherries, etc.

Mexican: Graham crackers, marshmallows, milk chocolate, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

Burst of Color: Though it doesn't really change the taste, adding rainbow sprinkles to the classic sure makes it pretty.

Banana Split: Take the delicious frozen treat and turn it into a s'more -- graham crackers, marshmallow, chocolate, strawberries, bananas, and nuts.

I don't know about you, but I'm ready to start a bonfire.

Here's the link to the website with yummy and great ideas.
http://www.kitchendaily.com/

Also here is a quick information of the yummy treat

S’mores originated around the turn of the 20th century, right arond the time that commercial marshmallows were becoming widespread. People were looking for things to do with them (aside from eating them straight out the package) and, at some point, someone came up with the s’more.

The treat is not attributed to any one person. It is generally assumed that the s’more was invented by campers or vacationers, then passed from person to person by word of mouth (and perhaps sharing the actual treats) at campsites. The traditional way of making a s’more is to toast a marshmallow over a camp fire, then sandwich it between two graham crackers with a piece of chocolate. The first official recipe for s’mores was published in the 1927 Girl Scout Handbook, which launched the treat into pop culture history.
The name itself actually evolved from requesting them over and over with asking "some more" which eventually became s'more.
Another useless tidbit is August 10 is S'More National Day...be sure to celebrate and let me know how you like your s'mores.

Are cupcakes and muffins friends?

The other day I was making banana chocolate chip muffins. I had my girls help me. Jenna who is 4 looked at me with her messy hair and beautiful big blue eyes and asks..."Mommy do you think cupcakes and muffins are friends?" I couldn't help but laugh and say I bet they are. She then looks at the batter and says "Well then your the muffin and I'm the cupcake and we'll be best friends" ....well isn't that a whole new meaning to muffin top.


Here is the recipe for the muffins...they are super yummy...even better if  you throw in some walnuts.

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

1 1/2 stick of butter
1 1/2 cups of sugar
2 large eggs
4 ripe bananas, mashed
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups of white whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon of salt
1/2 cup buttermilk...well shaken
1 cup of chocolate chips

Preheat oven 350
With electric mixer cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in bananas and vanilla.
Mix dry ingredient's in separate bowl
Then sift dry ingredients and add to banana mixture alternating with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour. Then fold in chips...and nuts if you are using them

Pour batter in muffin tins and bake 15 mins until toothpick comes out clean. Cool on wire racks and the devour with a cup of milk

Avocado chocolate pudding

Semi followed a recipe, just tweaked a little to make it a little healthier

Ingredients:

1/4 cup of Olivinia spread...I used 3 tablespoons of coconut oil and 2 of Olivinia

1 cup of avocado puree

1 cup of powdered sugar....I thought that was crazy so I used 1/2 cup of sucanet and 2 table spoons of powdered sugar

1/2 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder

1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract

1/4 cup of cornstarch

In med saucepan, melt spread and coconut oil over low heat. Stir in avocado puree, sucanet, and powdered sugar, cocoa powder, and vanilla. Cook mashing wellwith a silcone spatula to smooth out any lumps from avocado puree, until mixture thickens..3 mins about. Off the heat gradually stir in cornstarch. Serve warm with your choice of topping. We topped ours with woth fresh berries.

****Pudding is a very rich dark chocolate pudding, the kids and I like dark chocolate, I know a lot of people don't care for dark. ******

Honey Kissed Acorn Squash

Honey-Kissed Acorn Squash

2 acorn squash, halved lengthwise and seeded
3 T. honey
1/4 c. butter, melted
2 T. chopped pecans
2 T. sweetened dried cranberries or cherries
2 T. crushed pineapple
Garnish: nutmeg

Place squash halves cut-side up in a microwave-safe dish; microwave on high setting until tender, about 8 to 10 minutes. Combine remaining ingredients except nutmeg; spoon into squash halves. Microwave on high setting for 30 to 45 seconds, until heated through and lightly glazed. Sprinkle with nutmeg

Things I'm thinking about

I am going to use my blog to write out some of my thoughts lately if you don't mind.

One thing I am thinking of making my own make up. I was looking through Making Cosmetics.com and think that it is maybe possible.

Another thing I have thought about is making handbags...looking at directions I think I could do it

I have thought about making jewelery....just a thought

These are fleeting thoughts that I have and have no idea if I will ever be able to do any of it, or even have the time considering I barely have time to shower it seems ...but maybe someday?

Wordless Wednesday

What in the world is Barbie doing naked and hanging in my vacuum? Oh my just another day in my house