Family-Favorite Mac 'N Cheese

Finding out my oldest couldn't tolerate boxed macaroni and cheese - an obvious kid staple, I had to search for a homemade macaroni and cheese recipe - I wasn't raised on the homemade version. ;) So, one Christmas morning I decided to make homemade macaroni and cheese, and this was the recipe I found that was very loved and highly requested. It is courtesy of Alton Brown, on The Food Network. (Link included below)

Ingredients
1/2 pound elbow macaroni
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
1 tablespoon powdered mustard
3 cups milk
1/2 cup yellow onion, finely diced
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 large egg
12 ounces sharp cheddar, shredded
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Fresh black pepper
Topping:
3 tablespoons butter
1 cup panko bread crumbs
Directions

 Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a large pot of boiling, salted water cook the pasta to al dente.
While the pasta is cooking, in a separate pot, melt the butter. Whisk in the flour and mustard and keep it moving for about five minutes. Make sure it's free of lumps. Stir in the milk, onion, bay leaf, and paprika. Simmer for ten minutes and remove the bay leaf.
Temper in the egg. Stir in 3/4 of the cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Fold the macaroni into the mix and pour into a 2-quart casserole dish. Top with remaining cheese.
Melt the butter in a saute pan and toss the bread crumbs to coat. Top the macaroni with the bread crumbs. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and rest for five minutes before serving.
Remember to save leftovers for fried Macaroni and Cheese.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/baked-macaroni-and-cheese-recipe/index.html

Year of Firsts (marriage) gift basket

Post to come

Crickets in your neck

DH turned off the TV, telling the kids they were going to get a "crick" in their neck.

My oldest turns his head so fast it was almost spinning (yes, I'm serious) and says "What?! How do you get crickets in your neck?" He looked so alarmed, and all I could do was laugh hysterically. (Bad mom! But, as you know, sometimes if you don't laugh...)

Travel Toothbrush Roll-Up

Travel Toothbrush Roll-Up

This definitely needs some tweaking, but for a 2 am, haven't sewn in almost a year project, I was pretty happy with it!

My sister in law originally told me about this idea for her camping trip with her family this summer.

I did a cotton outter and a flannel inside layer. I didn't measure anything, so I just guess-timated how large! I've seen these in terry cloth and I may do a better one with a terry cloth inner, and make a pattern for it too. I actually would like to make each of my boys one that snaps closed and with their name on it, perfect for overnights!!

Here are some more pictures:

I can't get these images to turn for some reason, so I apologize for that. :/

I just stuck the "wisp" brushes in to fill the pockets, since we were minus one kid who stayed home. ;) But, they'd work too if you were camping and didn't know if there was good running water!

Maybe I'll make a tutorial for the "upgraded" carriers if there's interest! :)

Our adventure in making play dough...

Making Our Own Play-dough

*work in progress*

(Need to upload the pictures!)

Laundry Stain Cheat Sheet

This was NOT created by me, but I came across it online and thought I would share with the world!

Stuffed Cabbage

Stuffed Cabbage

Aunt Susan's Recipe

~This one is for you, Ashley! :o)

Ingredients:

• 2 heads of cabbage
• 1 c cooked rice
• 2 eggs
• 1 med chopped onion
• 2 lbs ground beef
• 1 tsp each salt and pepper
• 1/4 c lemon juice
• 1/4 c dark brown sugar
• 1 tbsp thyme
• 1 tbsp oregano
• 2 lg + 1 sm can tomato sauce
• 2 cans Italian stewed tomatoes

While rice is cooking, seperate cabbage leaves from heads, immerse in boiling water until limp; set aside. Combine next 8 ingredients, mix thoroughly. Roll ground beef mixture in balls according to size of leaves. Fold cabbage leaves over mixture and roll up. Mix remaining 4 ingredients. Pour 1/4 of sauce in bottom of LARGE kettle. Layer cabbage rolls in kettle. Pour remaining sauce over rolls. Cover with tight fitting lid. Simmer med-low for 4 hours.

*I haven't tried it yet, but I think you could make it in the crock pot as well as on the stove.

*I've heard of placing the head of cabbage in boiling water before peeling off the leaves - I also haven't done that yet, but it would probably be easier and less chance of the leaves ripping. I'll update as I try both of those!

Stuffed Peppers

Stuffed Peppers

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 lb lean ground beef
• 6 bell peppers (I used yellow, orange and red)
• 1/4 + 1/8 cup uncooked white rice (I used Jasmine rice)
• 3-4 tbsp tomato soup - undiluted
• 1 tsp dried Italian seasoning
• 3/4 tsp salt

• 

  YUM!

  2 tbsp light brown sugar
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 1 - 14 1/2 oz can Italian stewed tomatoes, undrained
• pinch of crushed red pepper to taste
• 3-4 garlic cloves, pressed (or chopped) more or less to taste

Cut off tops of peppers, clean out seeds and membranes, rinse and air dry them on a clean paper towel.

Combine beef, onion, rice, 2 tbsp tomato soup, 1/2 tsp oregano, salt, pepper, brown sugar and garlic. Mix thoroughly. Spoon an equal amount into each pepper. Place in a baking dish, snug enough to keep them all standing up.

Combine tomatoes, remaining tomato soup, Italian herbs and red pepper. Pour over stuffed peppers.

Cover tightly with foil and bake at 350 degrees F for 1 1/2 hours (I think mine ended up taking a little over 2 hours, but they were over-stuffed!) :o) I placed my baking dish on a cookie sheet.

*I chopped up the pepper I cut off and added it to the beef mixture.

Ready to go in the oven!

Beef Filled Cornbread Squares - It's What's For Dinner (8/1/12)!

Beef Filled Cornbread Squares

Aunt Susan's Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 lb lean ground beef (or turkey)
• 1/3 cup chopped onion
• 1 clove garlic - minced or pressed (more or less to taste)
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 2 boxes Jiffy cornbread mix
• 1 can of creamed corn
• 1/2 cup Shredded Cheddar cheese
• 1 - 7 1/2 oz can tomatoes, cut up
• 2 tsp cornstarch
• 1 7 1/2 oz can green chili peppers (optional)
• 2 tbsp green pepper - chopped
• 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

Instructions:

In skillet, cook ground beef, onion and garlic till meat is browned. Drain off fat. Stir in ketchup and 3/4 tsp salt.

Prepare cornbread mix in separate bowl according to package instructions. Mix in creamed corn. Spread HALF the batter in a greased 8 X 8" glass baking dish. Spoon meat mixture over batter in pan; sprinkle with cheese. Spread remaining batter over cheese. Bake, uncovered in 350 degree F oven for 30-35 minutes. Let stand 5-10 minutes before cutting to set.

Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, mix cornstarch and 2 tbsp COLD water. Stir in UNDRAINED tomatoes, chili peppers, green pepper and Worcestershire sauce. Cook and stir constantly until thickened and bubbly. Cut corn bread into squares. Serves 6.

Mildly spicy

*Photos to come*