Skillet Mac-N-Cheese

I'm in love with creamy macaroni!!! Try it you wont be dissapointed. I got the recipe from Mels Kitchen Cafe, you really need to check out all of her recipes, they all look really yummy. I have a long list of dishes I plan on making, stay tuned!!

Ingredients:
3 1/2 cups water, plus extra if needed

1 (12-ounce) can evaporated milk
12 ounces (about 3 cups) elbow macaroni
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/4 teaspoon hot sauce
6 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded (1 1/2 cups)
6 ounces Monterey Jack cheese, shredded (1 1/2 cups)
2 tablespoons butter, cut into small chunks
Ground black pepper to taste

Directions:
*Bring 3 1/2 cups water, 1 cup of the evaporated milk, the macaroni, and 1/2 teaspoon salt to a simmer in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over high heat. Cook at a vigorous simmer, stirring often, until the macaroni is tender and the liquid has thickened, 9 to 12 minutes.
*Whisk the remaining 1/2 cup evaporated milk, the cornstarch, mustard and hot sauce together in a small bowl, then stir into the skillet. Continue to simmer slightly thickened, about 1 minute.
*Off the heat, stir in the cheddar and Monterey Jack, one handful at a time, adding water as needed to adjust the consistency of the sauce (I didn’t need any additional water when I made it). Stir in the butter and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.

**When I made this I ended up adding pretty much double of all of the seasonings after it was done. And I personally wont use Monterey Jack again, it gave it creaminess but no real flavor, so I'll just use cheddar cheese.

Noodles and Ketchup

Yes you heard, er, saw right! Noodles and ketchup, nothing too fancy, and the only other ingredient is butter. So, yes, it's easy...I like easy, can you tell? I grew up with this, mostly eating it for lunch, and usually with a hot dog. Now most people stick their nose right up when they hear what it's called...but I LOVE it! Although this may not be one that pleases everyone. But I'm sure it'll be one the kiddos will enjoy!
 What you need:
Cooked noodles in amount desired (in whatever shape floats your boat)
Butter (amount depends on amount of noodles, enough to coat the noodles when melted)
Ketchup
What you do:
After the noodles are cooked, drain and leave them in the strainer-DO NOT RINSE-you want them hot. Put the butter in the pot to melt. Now here's where it gets good. Keep the butter cooking until it turns brown in color, this gives it a whole new flavor! When it's the right color add the noodles and stir it up. Then dish it out and add desired amount of ketchup right on top! YUM-O

Asain Wraps

Let me start out by saying that I love, love, LOVE these! And no the picture is not great...sorry, the fact that I didn't get the right lettuce doesn't help. But they are delicious! Try 'em, you'll love 'em too!
 And yes, they are easy! I can't remember where I got this recipe...but I'm pretty sure it was from one of the blogs to the left.

Ingredients:
3/4 lb lean ground meat (beef, turkey, chicken)
4 Tbsp low sodium soy sauce
1 tsp srirachi sauce
1/4 tsp white pepper
1/4 tsp ground ginger
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 red bell pepper, finely diced
1 green bell pepper, finely diced
1/2 cup onion, finely diced
3 oz mushrooms, diced
butter lettuce leaves, washed & dried

Directions:
In a medium skillet over high heat, brown the ground meat (I used turkey), stirring often and reducing the heat to medium when thoroughly browned. Add diced onions; bell peppers. Stir frequently until softened. Add the garlic, soy sauce, srirachi sauce, ginger, and white pepper. Stir occassionally adding mushrooms. Cook a few more minutes until mushrooms are softened. Remove from heat. Serve hot in lettuce leaves

So while the meat was browning, I mixed the ingredients that go in after the onions and peppers in a bowl, which made things easier. Also, I left out the mushrooms, and used black pepper instead of white.

Meatloaf with a side of Cheesy Cauliflower

Lets start with the meatloaf. Now I have grown up eating this, and it's good, I promise! The sauce is what definitely makes it.

Ingredients:
Meat part-
1 lb. ground beef
1 tsp. salt
2 T. dried onion
2/3 C. evaporated milk
1/2 C. rolled oats
Sauce-
4 tsp. Worcestershire
2 tsp. vinegar
4 tsp. sugar
2/3 C. ketchup
1/4 C. onion

Directions:
Mix the meat ingredients in a bowl and press into a pan, and bake at 400 for 10 mins or till the meat is brown. While meat is baking make sauce. Take out the meat, pour on the sauce and bake for another30-35 mins.

For the side I made real yummy, cheesy cauliflower. All you need is the cauliflower and mozzarella cheese.
Take the amount of desired cauliflower and in a single layer, put them on a cookie sheet(with foil) close together. Then sprinkle on some cheese! As little or as much as you want...and we wanted a lot! Enjoy!

Toffe Fruit Dip

I first tasted this delicious fruit dip at a play group party, and I fell in love! So I searched it out and found it so you all can enjoy it yourself!  (I got this recipe from recipezaar.com)

Ingredients
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1-8 ounce softened cream cheese
1 (10 ounce) bag heath toffee pieces
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup white sugar

Directions
1Mix all ingredients together with electric mixer, adding toffee bits last.
2Chill.
3Serve with fruit-- we prefer granny smith apple wedges.
No picture yet but when I make it I'll be sure to get one on!

Rainbow Rice and Bean Salad

My friend gave me this recipe. I love it! It makes a beautiful, healthy, quick, tasty dish.

Ingredients:
3 cups prepared brown rice
3 medium carrots, finely chopped or grated
2 cups cooked black beans, drained
1 cup cooked corn
1/2-1 cup minced fresh herbs packed (cilantro, parsley, dill, or basil)
1/3 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, chopped **I used dehydrated ones and soaked them**
3-4 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2-3 Tbsp. fresh or frozen lemon juice or wine vinegar
salt and pepper to taste
**I also added lime juice to taste**

Direction:
Mix all ingredients together and toss gently. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm or thoroughly chilled.

I made this for Jay's lunch today and he had a great idea to put this mixture into a tortilla. Since we were short on tortillas he actually used it as a dip for his 'hint of lime tortilla chips'! It was delicious!

Mandarine Orange Jello

This is some good jello salad!!!

Ingredients:
1 box Orange Jello
1 box Vanilla Pudding
1 box Tapioca Pudding
1 big can of Mandarine Oranges
cool whip

Directions:
Put all of the box contents in a sauce pan along with 3 cups of water and bring to a boil. Put into the bowl you'll be serving in and put in the fridge and allow to cool (will take 30 to an hour). Add the cool whip not quite the whole tub. Add the oranges and put in fridge to allow it to firm up.

Caramelized Onions and Potatoes

Easy crock pot side dish!

2 large sweet onions (Vidalia) thinly sliced (2 cups)
1 1/2 lbs. tiny new potatoes, halved
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup beef or chicken broth
3 TBSP brown sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground pepper

1. In a 3 1/2 -4quart slow cooker place onions and potatoes.
2. In a small bowl combine melted butter, broth, brown sugar, salt and pepper. Pour mixture over onions and potatoes in cooker.
3. Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Stir GENTLY before serving. Serve with a slotted spoon!

"I love this easy dish! It's so yummy. Jay often requests it!" -Chelsea

Apple Snicker Salad

I absolutly LOVE this "salad". It's super easy and delish! I got this recipe from my sister-in-law Kristy and slighty modified it.

4-6 Apples
4-6 (or 7 or 8) Snickers
Cool Whip 1 tub

Cut up the apples into bite size pieces and put into a bowl. Here is where Kristy and I do it differently, I just cut up my snicker bars into lots of different sizes, and Kristy freezes hers then smashes them up, both work. And I don't use a full tub of cool whip either just enough to coat everything well.
This recipe is very flexible with the amount of ingredients you want to use depending on how much you want. I would do 5-6 apples for a normal size. I like crisp apples, like pink lady, but any apples will do. The same goes for the snickers, it just depends how much you want. I like a lot. I use around 5 snicker bars.