Mommy Girl's Mack n Cheese

My friend Raeanne's macaroni and cheese... a much simpler recipe and oh so good!

1 lb. elbow macaroni
1 quart milk
8 T. butter
½ c. flour
22 oz. sharp cheddar cheese (roughly 7 c. grated)
1 T. Dijon mustard
1 T. Worcestershire sauce
S&P to taste

Cook macaroni according to the box directions in salted water, set aside. Heat milk over med. Heat (don’t boil). Melt butter in a pan, add flour and cook until nutty. Pour in hot milk and take off the heat. Wisk. Add almost all the cheese (save some for the top) and stir until melted. Add the mustard, Worcestershire and S&P. Fold in the macaroni. Place into a large, buttered, glass baking dish and cover with remaining cheese. Bake at 375 for 30 min to get a nice crust on top. Enjoy!

White Bean-Tomato Risotto

I found this recipe at www.parents.com and adapted it a bit.

1 Tbsp olive oil
1 can (19 oz) cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
1/3 cup finely chopped onion
1 cup arborio rice
1 can(14 oz)vegetable broth, heated
1/2 cup water or dry white wine
1 can (14.5 oz)diced tomatoes, drained
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
3 Tbsp chopped Italian parsley

In a 3 qt sauce pan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and cook until tender. Add rice and cook while stirring for 1 minute. Add beans and water or wine and stir until liquid is absorbed. Add broth one cup at a time, adding more as liquid is absorbed. Reduce heat and simmer, covered for 20 minutes.

Add tomatoes, cheese and parsley. Remove from heat and let stand, covered for 10 minutes before serving.

Barbecued Brussel Sprouts

Brussel sprout trimmed with an X cut in the stem.
Mix in a bowl some olive oil, balsamic & Dijon.
Whip it up and it will get a little thick and stop separating out.
Coat the sprouts then throw them on BBQ.
Once cooked, toss them in some more of dressing and throw in some goat cheese.
It will all melt together to make a creamy balsamic coating.

Charred Red Salsa Recipe from the Four Seasons in Phoenix

Best charred salsa that I have ever had.

1/4 Cup Olive Oil
3 large vine ripe tomatoes
1 yellow onion
2 jalapenos
1 bunch of cilantro
1 Chipotle pepper (canned)
2 cups V-8 juice
3 whole limes (juiced - no seeds)
1 tsp. dry oregano
1 tbsp. ground cumin
1 tbsp. onion powder
1 tbsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. dry thyme
1 tbsp. ground black pepper
Salt to taste

De-stem tomatoes and jalepenos as well as tips. Run with olive oil to coat skin. *Grill tomatoes and jalapenos until outer skin begins to blacken. Set aside to cool. Cut onion in half and discard outer skin. Lightly *grill the onion until soft, set aside to cool. When tomatoes, jalapenos and onion have been cooled, place all ingredients in blender. Lightly pulse until ingredients have been incorporated. Salt to taste.

Make 3-4 cups of salsa.

*If grill is unavailable, use a stovetop burner on low heat to attain the char method for tomatoes and jalapenos. Place onion in oven heated to 300 degrees for 15 minutes to allow to soften.

Maple-Braised Butternut Squash with Fresh Thyme

This one was a smash hit at Thanksgiving this year. Straight outta Bon Appetit made by the loving hands of Brittany Lyons.

Ingredients
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) butter
1 3- to 3 1/2-pound butternut squash, cut lengthwise in half, peeled, seeded, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 1/4 cups low-salt chicken broth
1/3 cup pure maple syrup
1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme
1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon (or more) black pepper

THE TECHNIQUE: BRAISED
Braising (sautéing, then cooking low and slow in a bit of liquid) is most often associated with meat, but it's also a great way to cook veggies. FIbrous vegetables like butternut squash are the perfect candidate for braining. The braising liquid infuses the squash with flavor and makes it very tender.

Preparation
Melt butter in heavy large deep skillet over high heat. Add squash; sauté 1 minute. Add broth, syrup, thyme, salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; bring to boil. Cover, reduce heat to medium, and cook until squash is almost tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer squash to large bowl. Boil liquid in skillet until thickened, 3 to 4 minutes. Return squash to skillet. Cook until tender, turning occasionally, 3 to 4 minutes. Season with more pepper, if desired.

Nutritional Information
One serving contains:
Calories (kcal) 177.2
% Calories from Fat 43.2
Fat (g) 8.5
Saturated Fat (g) 5.4
Cholesterol (mg) 23.3
Carbohydrates (g) 25.6
Dietary Fiber (g) 2.9
Total Sugars (g) 11.2
Net Carbs (g) 22.7
Protein (g) 2.0
Sodium (mg) 174.1

Corn Mushroom Bake

I almost didn't make this recipe this Thanksgiving. What I didn't do was double the recipe as I usually do... and people complained when it was gone! Won't make that mistake again! This dish can made ahead and baked before serving. It's super easy and really good!

1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 can (17 oz) cream style corn
3 oz cream cheese, chopped
1/2 tsp onion salt
1 can (17 oz) whole kernel corn, drained
1 can (4 oz) mushroom stems and pieces (optional)
1/2 cup Swiss cheeses, shredded
1 1/2 cup bread crumbs (about a slice of bread, crumbled)
2 Tbsp butter or margarine, melted

In a pan combine flour and cream style corn. Add cream cheese and onion slat. Place over low heat and stir until the cream cheese melts. Add whole kernel corn, mushrooms and Swiss cheese, stirring until cheese is melted.

Transfer mixture to a casserole dish.

Combine bread crumbs and butter and put on top of corm mixture.

Bake uncovered for 40 minutes at 350 degrees until top started to bubble and brown.

Cranberry Chutney

I make this chutney every Thanksgiving now. The first time I made it was under the instruction of Ryan's mom who had the recipe one Thanksgiving. Since then, I've been credited with the dish. This is a great alternative to the cranberry sauce from the can... though Ryan still insists on having that served as well! I also always add more almonds than the recipe calls for.

1 cup water
1 cup sugar
2 cups fresh cranberries
2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/4 c slivered almonds, toasted
1 Tbsp light brown sugar
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp finely chopped garlic

Toast almonds in a pan on the stove over medium heat, stirring frequently. Set aside.

In a heavy, 3 quart saucepan, dissolve sugar in 1 cup water over medium high heat. Once the sugar is dissolved, allow to come to a boil.

Add remaining ingredients and boil slowly. Stir occasionally until mixture thickens. Let cool to set more.

Chutney can be stored int he refrigerator for up to one month.

Gooseneck Squash

We had so much squash this summer! My dear, sweet husband planted one too many squash plants this summer... we had summer squash, zuccini squash AND gooseneck squash. SO many squash, so little time! Didn't try the dessert squash, but the Yellow Squash Casserole was pretty good.

Yellow Squash Dessert

1 lrg. yellow goose neck squash - peeled, seeded, cubed
water - to cover
3/4 stick margarine
1 cup granulated sugar
2 Tbls. vanilla
1/4 tsp. salt
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
4 lrg. eggs
12 oz. can evaporated milk
whipped cream - to top

-Place squash in large saucepan and cover with water.
-Boil for 20 minutes, or until tender.
-Drain and mash with an electric mixer.
-Add margarine, sugar, vanilla, salt, flour, eggs, and milk to squash and mix well.
-Pour mixture into a buttered 9" X 13" casserole dish.
-Bake in 375 degree oven for 25 minutes, or until slightly golden brown and a knife inserted in center comes out clean.
-Serve slightly warm with whipped cream.

Yellow Squash Casserole
INGREDIENTS
4 cups sliced yellow squash
1/2 cup chopped onion
35 buttery round crackers, crushed
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
2 eggs, beaten
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 teaspoon salt
ground black pepper to taste
2 tablespoons butter
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
Place squash and onion in a large skillet over medium heat. Pour in a small amount of water. Cover, and cook until squash is tender, about 5 minutes. Drain well, and place in a large bowl.
In a medium bowl, mix together cracker crumbs and cheese. Stir half of the cracker mixture into the cooked squash and onions. In a small bowl, mix together eggs and milk, then add to squash mixture. Stir in 1/4 cup melted butter, and season with salt and pepper. Spread into a 9x13 inch baking dish. Sprinkle with remaining cracker mixture, and dot with 2 tablespoons butter.
Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes, or until lightly browned.

Mac 'N Cheese

One of the best Mac'N Cheese I've ever had! (Naomi), but my girls don't like it!

yield: Makes 20 servings
active time: 35 min
total time: 1 1/4 hr
The toasted crumbs on top have a cheesy crispness, and the pasta beneath is creamy and rich. Kids will appreciate the individual servings, but... more ›

Ingredients
For topping
• 1/2 stick unsalted butter
• 2 cups panko (coarse Japanese bread crumbs) or 3 cups coarse fresh bread crumbs (from 6 slices firm white sandwich bread)
• 1/4 pound coarsely grated extra-sharp Cheddar (1 1/2 cups)
• 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

For macaroni and sauce
• 1 stick unsalted butter
• 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 5 cups whole milk
• 1 pound coarsely grated extra-sharp Cheddar (6 cups)
• 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
• 1 pound elbow macaroni
print a shopping list for this recipe

Preparation
Make topping:
Preheat oven to 400°F with rack in middle.
Melt butter, then stir together with panko and topping cheeses in a bowl until combined well.
Make sauce:
Melt butter in a heavy medium saucepan over medium-low heat and stir in flour. Cook roux, stirring, 3 minutes, then whisk in milk. Bring sauce to a boil, whisking constantly, then simmer, whisking occasionally, 3 minutes. Stir in cheeses, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper until smooth. Grate nutmeg (3 grates). Remove from heat and cover surface of sauce with wax paper.
Make Macaroni:
Cook macaroni in a pasta pot of boiling salted water (2 tablespoons salt for 4 quarts water) until al dente. Reserve 1 cup cooking water and drain macaroni in a colander. Stir together macaroni, reserved cooking water, and sauce in a large bowl. Transfer to 2 buttered 2-quart shallow baking dishes.
Sprinkle topping evenly over macaroni and bake until golden and bubbling, 20 to 25 minutes.
Cooks' notes: · Topping can be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered.
· Half of dish can be baked in 10 (6- to 8-ounce) ramekins for children (with remaining half baked in a 2-quart baking dish for adults).

Doris' Bean Bake

1 pound bacon – cut up, browned, drained
3 onions – chopped and sautéed with bacon
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. pressed garlic
½ Tbsp. dry mustard
½ cup vinegar

Simmer all together 15 minutes.

Then add:
1 can kidney beans
1 can green lima beans
2 cans butter beans
1 large can B & M Beans


Bake 1 hour at 350^o or put in crock pot
and cook all day.

Applesauce

12 medium to large apples
1 c water
1/2 c sugar (or amount to your liking)
1 Tbsp lemon juice

Peel and cut or slice apples and put in a large pot over medium heat until nearly soft. Add sugar and lemon juice and cook a few more minutes. Puree in blender to desired consistency. Makes about 5 cups.

Note: We have an apple, peeler, corer which works really well and is fun for the girls to do too.

Spanish Tortillas

2 Tbsp Olive oil
1 pond all purpose potatoes (2 large) diced
1 medium onion, sliced
1 medium green pepper, diced
3/4 tsp salt
8 large eggs
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 can (14 1/2 oz) diced tomatoes, drained
1/2 c water
1/2 c chopped pimiento-stuffed olives (Salad olives)... optional
fresh chives for garnish

In a nonstick, oven safe, 10-inch skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add potatoes, onion, green pepper, and 1/4 tsp salt and cook until vegetables are tender, about 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a medium bowl beat eggs, pepper, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 c water with a whisk or fork. Stir in tomatoes and olives, if desired. Stir egg mixture into potato mixture and cook, covered for 5 minutes, or until egg mixture begins to set around edge. Remove cover and place skillet in oven. Bake 15-20 minutes, until egg is set.

Alternative (if cookware is not oven safe):

Do as above, except transfer potato mixture to an oven-safe bake ware, add egg mixture and bake for same time given.

Let cool before cutting. Garnish with chives.

Hot Mustard

Ingredients:
1/2 Cup Dry Mustard (or one 2 oz. can Coleman's)
1 Cup Sugar
2/3 Cup Vinegar
3 Eggs

Directions:
In a sauce pan whisk together the dry ingredients until well blended. In a separate bowl mix the eggs and vinegar thoroughly. Add the liquid to the mustard mixture and whisk until completely blended (no lumps). Slowly cook over low heat for about 10 minutes, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. Remove from heat as soon as it starts to boil. Cook slowly so eggs do not overcook.

Once thickened, transfer to a glass bowl to cool.

Serve warm or cold.

Keeps in refridgerator for about a month.