Homemade Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Thanks, Patricia C. for this recipe. Macaroni and cheese is a staple in our house and this one sounds great!

JUST LIKE GRANDMA'S HOMEMADE BAKED MACARONI & CHEESE

Cook 1 box of Elbow macaroni in boiling salted water til tender; drain
In saucepan, melt 6 tablespoons butter; blend in 4 tablespoons all purpose flour, 1 teaspoon salt and and dash of pepper

Add 4 cups of milk; cook and stir until thick & bubbly
Add 1/2 cup of finely chopped onion (optional)
Add 32 slices of white or yellow American cheese (broken into small pieces)
Stir until melted

Add sauce to macaroni.
Turn into large casserole dish
Cut up several pieces of freshly cooked bacon and sprinkle on top of macaroni. (optional-- but delicious)
Slice tomato and arrange slices on top of bacon/macaroni.
Sprinkle all with parsley

Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until heated thoroughly.

YUM!

Could also be used as a side dish with a nice breaded chicken. Also would be nice with chopped broccoli throughout! Be creative!

Chicken Broccoli Casserole

Thanks, Alice!

Chicken Broccoli Casserole

3 cups broccoli florets

2 cups cubed chicken or turkey

1 can (10 3/4 oz.) condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 teaspoon curry powder

1 cup cubed fresh bread

2 tablespoons butter, melted

In a covered saucepan, cook broccoli in water until crisp-tender; drain. Place in a greased 11-in. X 7-in. X 2-in. baking dish; set aside.

Combine chicken, soup, mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese and curry powder; spoon over broccoli. Top with bread cubes and butter. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until heated through.

Yield: 6 servings

Grilled Pork Chops with Maple-Apple Glaze

(Picture and recipe courtesy of bettycrocker.com)

Thanks, Shawn!!! Definitely going to be trying these out.

Grilled Pork Chops with Maple-Apple Glaze

1/4	cup real maple syrup
1/4	cup apple butter
1/2	teaspoon ground mustard
4	pork bone-in loin chops, 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick, trimmed of fat
1/2	teaspoon garlic pepper blend
1/4	teaspoon salt

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1. Heat coals or gas grill for direct heat. In 1-quart saucepan, mix maple syrup, apple butter and mustard. Cook over low heat about 1 minute, stirring occasionally, until well blended.
2. Sprinkle pork chops with garlic pepper and salt. Place pork on grill. Brush with maple mixture. Cover and grill over medium heat 10 to 12 minutes, turning and brushing with maple mixture 2 or 3 times, until no longer pink when cut near bone. Discard any remaining maple mixture.

Amazing Cheese Soup Recipe

It's been cool all week here. I'm starting to think about soup!! Here's a recipe from Patricia C.

AMAZING CHEESE SOUP RECIPE!

1 1/2 quarts of water
6 chicken bouillon cubes
1 1/2 cups diced celery
1 1/2 cups diced carrots
1 1/2 cups diced onions
2 1/2 cups cubed potatoes
10 oz bag frozen broccoli (thaw slightly and chop)
10 oz bag frozen cauliflower (thaw slightly and chop)
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 lb velveeta cheese

Dissolve bouillon in water and add raw veggies then add broccoli and cauliflower. When the veggies are tender, add chicken soup and cheese, heat thru until smooth and hot!

YUM YUM YUM!

It's time for PIZZA!

It occurred to me recently that I haven't shared a single recipe of my own (and honestly, this isn't solely mine...my friend Amanda found the yummy pizza dough recipe on The Pioneer Woman Cooks). I've been so busy trying to get all of your recipes up that I didn't even think to include one. So here goes...

Dough Recipe:

This is some seriously good pizza dough. The recipe says it makes 2 pizza crusts. Mark and I like variety...and thin crust, so this past weekend, I made 3 crusts out of it with three different sets of toppings. Here's the small print...this dough needs to be made at least 24 hours in advance.

1 tsp. active dry or instant yeast
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. kosher salt
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

Sprinkle yeast over 1 1/2 cups warm water. (I use a thermometer to get the water temperature right in order to activate the yeast.) In a mixer, combine flour and salt. With the mixer running on low speed, drizzle in olive oil until combined with the flour. Next, pour in the yeast/water mixture and mix until just combined.

Coast a separate mixing bowl with with a light drizzle of olive oil and form the dough into a ball. Toss to coat the dough in olive oil. Then cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap and store in the fridge for at least 24 hours...3 or 4 days is even better.

After dough has cured for 1 to 4 days, you are ready to enjoy some yumminess.

Divide dough in two and roll out. I like to use my Pampered Chef stones. Add desired toppings. Bake in a 500 degree oven for 12 minutes. Enjoy!!

My variations:

BBQ Chicken (My fave)

Diced chicken breast
BBQ sauce...my personal favorite is Sweet Baby Ray's Original
Onion and garlic sauteed for just a bit in olive oil
Mozzarella cheese...lots of it!

Use the BBQ sauce as you would regular pizza sauce. Top with the other ingredients. Bake and eat.

Chicken Alfredo (Mark's fave)

Diced chicken breast
1 jar of alfredo sauce
Onion, mushrooms, and garlic sauteed for just a bit in olive oil
Mozzarella cheese...lots of it!

Use the alfredo sauce as you would regular pizza sauce. Top with the other ingredients. Bake and eat.

Buffalo Chicken Pizza (My newest creation)

Diced Chicken breast
1/3 cup Frank's Hot Sauce
1/3 cup melted butter (not margarine)
1/4 cup ranch dressing
Mozzarella cheese

Combine the Frank's, melted butter, and ranch. Spread it on the crust. Add chicken and cheese. Bake and eat.

****************************************************

Yes, I do make 'regular' pizza. I just enjoy the non-traditional versions more. I will next try to come up with a seafood version...Mark loves anything with crab and shrimp...and maybe even lobster. A local pizzeria has a mac and cheese pizza...I might have to try that too.

Anybody out there....

Hey folks...

Just wondering if anyone is reading this. It looks like it from the counter at the bottom of the page, but rarely does anyone comment. I'm used to feedback on my other blog and I'm feelin' kinda lonely...lol.

Leave me a comment and let me know what recipes you have tried and if they were a hit.

Garden Vegetable and Chicken Skillet

This recipe was found in Taste of Home by Carrie...thanks!

Garden Vegetable and Chicken Skillet

2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2 inch cubes

1 med yellow squash, chopped

1 med zuchinni, chopped

1 med carrot, chopped

2 tbsp. butter

3 cups baby spinach

1 garlic clove, minced

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

1 cup uncooked instant brown rice

1 1/4 cups water

In a large skillet, saute chicken, squash, zuchinni and carrot in butter for 5-6 minutes ir until chicken is no longer pink; drain. Add spinach, garlic, salt and pepper; cook 2 minutes longer.

Stir in rice and water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes or until rice is tender.

Best in the West Beans

BEST IN THE WEST BEANS

10-12 SERVINGS

10 Slices bacon (brown, add onion, Sautee)
½ pound ground beef
½ onion – chopped

½ cup brown sugar
1/3 cup white sugar
¼ cup ketchup
¼ cup bar-be-que sauce (any kind)

2 Tablespoons Mustard
2 Tablespoons Molassses
½ teaspoon each Salt & Pepper

16 oz. kidney beans, drained
16 oz. butter beans – drained (I substitute garbanzo beans)
32 oz. pork and beans – drained

Mix all together (finally) and pour into 3 qt. casserole. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Note: You can use Bush’s Baked Beans with hamburger, then omit the ½ pound ground beef.

Thanks Alice!

Double Chocolate Cream Cheese Cake

I'm scared to try this! I think I might never stop eating it if I do...lol. Thanks, Elizabeth, this sounds heavenly!!!!

Double Chocolate Cream Cheese Cake

Filling

¾ cup sugar

8 oz cream cheese softened

½ tsp vanilla

1 egg

½ bag chocolate chips

Beat eggs, sugar, and vanilla until fluffy then stir in chocolate chips

1 Chocolate cake mix or plus butter recipe

1 cup water

½ cup melted butter

3 eggs

1 tbs flour

½ bag chocolate chips

Combine all cake ingredients until moist, the beat for 2 minutes at high speed

Pour batter into greased 9 x 13 pan spoon filling over cake evenly, sprinkle ¼ cup sugar over entire cake

Bake a 350 for 45-55 min cool for 15 min. then top with frosting

Magic Fudge Frosting

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 tbs water

Sprinkle of salt

2 packages of choco melt or 2 squares of unsweetened bakers choc. Melted

Cook on medium until thick stir constantly

When thick remove from stove and add ½ tsp vanilla

Pour on top of cake and spread evenly

Cranberry Pork Chops

I made these about a week ago. I even took a picture. The recipe was very good. The pictures I took...not so much...lol. We enjoyed this super-simple recipe. Hope you do too. Thanks, Shawn!

CRANBERRY PORK CHOPS

By: Parents, September 2008

1 pkg (5.4 oz) Near East Whole Grain Blends Rice; Roasted Pecan & Garlic
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 medium yellow onion; halved and sliced
4 boneless pork loin chops; cut 1inch thick
Salt
pepper
1 can (16 oz) whole cranberry sauce
1/4 cup orange juice

1. Cook whole-grain blend (a mixture of brown rice and pearled wheat)
according to the package directions.

2. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high. Add onion and cook until
tender, about 4 minutes. Season pork chops with salt and pepper and add to
skillet. Cook until browned on both sides, about 4 minutes.

3. Stir cranberry sauce and orange juice into skillet. Heat just to a boil.
Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, 5 to 7 minutes more. Serve pork
with whole grains and fruit sauce.

Yield: 4 servings

Zucchini Pie

Anyone have any last-of-the-season zucchini left??? I sure wish I did. I'll have to save this one for next season. Thanks, Melissa!!!!

Zucchini Pie

1 lb hamburger
1/2 chopped onion
8 oz crescent rolls
1 1/2 c chopped zucchini
1/2 c chopped green pepper
butter
shredded cheese
chopped tomatoes

Brown hamburger with onion, salt and pepper. Drain.

Spread rolls over bottom and side of 10 inch pie plate. Spoon meat over rolls. Spread cheese over meat.

Saute zucchini and green pepper in butter with a little salt. Spoon over cheese. Top with chopped tomatoes.

Bake at 325 for 15 minutes. Sprinkle with 1/2 c shredded cheese and bake 15 minutes longer.