Super Secret Mac and Cheese

Now, my kids hate veggies. I can not get them to eat them for the life of me. I made this, and they ate it all and had second helpings. It is creamy, has a little sweet and a little tang and just perfect!

serves 4 (I double it and use for leftovers)
2 - 2 1/2 cups dry noodles
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp flour
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup cooked and pureed squash or cauliflower (I use butternut squash)
1 1/2 cup shredded cheese (cheddar)
4 oz cream cheese
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp paprika
1/8 tsp pepper
Cook noodles as directed, cooking until al dente.
Meanwhile, in separate pan, heat oil, add flour stirring until it is a paste. Add milk and cook over low heat, stirring constantly until mixture becomes thick and starts to bubble (about 4 minutes). Add vegetable mixture and cheese, stir until melted. Add cooked noodles.
Optional: cover with a layer of bread crumbs and shredded cheese and bake until bubbly. However, It is so delicious without that extra step. The cream cheese and squash give it a fantastically creamy texture, not unlike Velveeta!

Yoder's Peanut Butter Pie

(original post date 5/11/2010)

(picture compliments of Ms Bright)
If you are ever in Sarasota, you simply MUST stop by Yoder's. It is simply amazing. Its a little restaurant set in the middle of the Omish community and the food is to die for. My grandfather found this little gem and took me out for breakfast. I am not a breakfast person, but I could eat there every day.

I WILL be baking this pie this week. I may end up making more than one. And, I am VERY thankful to have had my gallbladder removed last week so that I can enjoy this!!!

Yoder's Peanut Butter Cream Pie

you'll need

9 inch pie crust, baked

3 cups whipped cream

Pudding

1 cup cold milk

1/2 cup cornstarch

1 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

3 egg yolks

3 cups milk

3 tsp butter/margerine

3/4 cup sugar

Crumb Mixture

1 cup powdered sugar

1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter

2 tsp cocoa powder

To make pudding:

Mix corn starch, salt, 1 cup milk, egg yolks and vanilla with a wire wisk and set aside.

Heat 3 cups milk, butter and sugar until scalding, stirring constanty. Add cornstarch mixture to hot milk while stirring with whisk. Cook until thickened. Remove from heat before boiling.

Place pudding in refridgerator to chill. Stir every 10 minutes.

To make crumbs:

Mix powdered sugar, cocoa, and peanut butter until small crumbs form (with mixer).

Place 1/2 crumbs into pie shell. Spoon pudding onto crumbs. Place remaining crumbs on top of pudding, reserving a little for the topping. Top with whipped cream (homemade is best, but cool whip could work if you prefer)
Whipped Topping
2 cup heavy whipping cream
1 cup sugar
Beat until stiff. Be careful, if you beat them too long it will turn into sweet butter :)

Enjoy!!!!

The Perfect Brownie

This is the kind of recipe that makes me happy. Not just because it is chocolate, but it is easy. So easy and so good, it makes me never want to buy pre-packaged brownie mix again. Almost.

But really, this is a good brownie. It is nice and fudgy, not cakey (Bryan despises cake-like brownies) and it has a nice layer of crunch on top. Oh, and did I say that they were EASY?

Fudgy Brownies

4 eggs

1 cup butter, softened

2 cups sugar

1 cup flour

1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 cup chocolate chips

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs 1 at a time. Mix in remaining ingredients. Pour into a greased 9x13 pan. Bake at 325 for 40-50 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. My secret? DO NOT OVER COOK. When you do, then they become crumby. I go more for 35-40 minutes. 

Smothered Chicken

Have you ever had one of THOSE days? You know, kids come home from school and by the time you finish homework you realize its dinner time and you have no idea what to make? This is one of our favorites, well, one of my favorites, when that happens. It is easy and the kids love it. And, I usually have all the ingredients on hand so I don't have to hunt around for something.

1 pound chicken breasts
Lawry's Seasoned Salt
4 strips of bacon, cooked
4-5 slices American Cheese

I usually start by frying the bacon (or baking it, however you prefer). While that is cooking, in a large fry pan (I have a grill fry pan that works perfectly for this) melt 1 TBSP butter and 1 TBSP extra virgin olive oil on med-high heat. Sprinkle chicken breasts with Lawry's....my seasoning for EVERYTHING! Place in hot fry pan and cover for 8-10 minutes per side, or until chicken is cooked through and no longer pink. Turn off heat. Place one piece of bacon on each piece of chicken,  and top with a slice of cheese. Cover pan for 2 minutes, or until cheese has melted.
Now, my little secret....I get the Veggie-Cheese from the produce section. It is a dairy free vegetarian cheese but tastes just like American cheese. That way, the kids get some veggies without even knowing it. (Bryan, if you are reading this, I don't make yours with it!)
It is wonderful served as a sandwich on a kaiser roll, but if you don't have any, it is perfect alone!

Pumpkin Muffins

(Original Post 10/4/2010)

I know I have posted this before, but I thought I would post it again. I love this season. Fall definitely is my favorite. The colors outside are changing, its the beginning of the holiday season, family starts gathering more often, children's laughter fills the air with glee and anticipation of what is to come...and the food. Nothing is better than the food that comes along with the holidays. Pumpkin, being one of my favorite. And, of course, simple recipes that the children all love...that makes me happiest of all!!!Ingredients:
1 box of cake mix (any will do, my favorite is spice cake)
1 15oz canned pumpkin
1 cup mini chocolate chips/nuts/filling of your choice

Preheat oven to 350, mix pumpkin and cake mix until blended. Add chocolate chips, or nuts, or whatever you want. Fill lined muffin cups almost to the top. Bake for 20 minutes.

I even caught Reid sneaking a mini muffin!

Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting

(Original post 11/18/2010)

Like I need another reason to make something pumpkin. I think, no, I KNOW Bryan is getting tired of it. He HATES fall only because he knows everything I bake has pumpkin in it and he is not a fan of pumpkin.

But I am. And the kids are.

So, I found a recipe for pumpkin cookies a little while back. Tweaked it and perfected it, made it a little easier, and here we go!



Pumpkin Cookies
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
1 egg
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt

In a large bowl, cream together butter, sugar and pumpkin. Add egg.
In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.
Add flour mix to pumpkin mix.
Here is where I like to add 1/2 cup of chocolate chips. Everything is better with chocolate.
Drop spoonful on to greased cookie sheet. They don't rise much or change shape, so if you are concerned how they look, fix them before you cook them.
Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes. Let cool before frosting.



Cream Cheese Frosting
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 lb powdered sugar
1 stick butter, softened
8 oz cream cheese, softened
Beat all ingredients together until creamy. Frost cooled cookies.

Refreshing Fruit Dip

I have the winter blues. I am not meant for this cold stuff. I need the sun. Maybe that is why I live in Florida. My cure? Food. But of course. And this dip is the perfect thing. Serve it with some fresh oranges and apples and it makes you feel like summertime. Perfect with maybe some pretzels too!

Cream together:
1 jar (7 oz) marshmallow fluff
1 package cream cheese, softened
1 tbsp honey
1 tsp grated orange peel
1/4 tsp cinnamon