Thursday, February 21, 2019

Yummy Mac & Cheese Recipe!


We found this recipe for Mac & Cheese on the internet.
The address is: 
 https://www.kitchentreaty.com/the-best-macaroni-cheese-ever/print/
I agree,  it is the best I've had...
  They say:   The best mac and cheese! Seriously.  Creamy,  cheesy,  
straightforward,  ooey,  gooey - this recipe will knock your socks off.

Yes,  it is that good.



Ingredients:

  • 8 oz.  (1/2 pound or about 1 3/4 cups) macaroni or other medium tubular pasta  (like penne or conchiglie)
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard 
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon smoked paprika plus more for sprinkling on top
  • 2 1/2 cups milk
  • 3 cups (approx. 12 ounces) grated medium cheddar cheese


Directions:
1.  Cook pasta until al dente,  according to package directions.  Drain and rinse with cool water to stop the cooking,  and return to the pan you boiled it in.  Set aside. (Mix in a little butter to stop the noodles from sticking together.)

2.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

3.  To a medium saucepan over medium heat,  add the butter.  When the butter has melted,  add the flour,  salt,  dry mustard,  pepper, and 1/8 teaspoon smoked paprika.  With a wooden spoon or whisk,  stir constantly for three minutes. 

4.  Add the milk in a thin stream,  stirring constantly with a whisk.  Continue to stir constantly until the sauce thickens,  about 10-12 minutes.

5.  Remove from heat and add 2 cups of the cheese,  stirring until melted.  Pour the cheese sauce over the pasta and toss gently until all of the pasta is coated.

6.  Add half the pasta to a two quart casserole dish.  Sprinkle on half the cheese.  Add the rest of the pasta.  Sprinkle on the rest of the cheese,  then dust lightly with the smoked paprika.

7.  Bake for about 25-30 minutes,  until the mac and cheese starts getting a slightly dry and a tiny bit brown on top.  Serve,  topping individual servings with cooked,  chopped bacon,  if desired.  Enjoy!



I hope you will try it and that you will like it...
'Til next time.  Love ya,  Jean

Monday, February 18, 2019

Amaryllis...

The Red Lion is still blooming...
So pretty...



The previous flowers that I hand pollinated
have big, beautiful seed pods now.
I love it when something like this works...
It puts a little Spring in the air...

I have been working on a new project,
I will show it when I make
some progress on it.

In the meantime,
have a wonderful evening.
'Til next time,  Love ya,  Jean

Thursday, February 7, 2019

Still Bloomin'...

Still bloomin'...
This is the second blossom
on one of my Amaryllis plants...



And here are the flowers...

It has four very large ones!

I hand pollinated the first blooms that came out,
and these are the seed pods that have grown.
I'm hoping to get some viable seeds from them.
(To grow some more plants...)

Always something to do for a gardener
to amuse themselves!  😊
So much fun!

'Til next time,  Love ya,  Jean