Homemade Mac n Cheese

Sorry I am a day late!
I was running late, so I purchased pre-shredded cheese . . . it simply melts quicker . . .
Start pasta water, salted, about the same time that you start melting butter.

4 Tbsp of butter

 Melt butter on low heat

Add 4 Tbsp of Unbleached white flour

Stir, allow the flour to absorb the butter.  You will need to keep it warm on low. (If you add too much flour, your sauce will be kinda grainy). Stir until clumped up. Grab a whisk and your milk.

Add 3 cups of milk. Whisk milk and roux (your flour and butter mixture), until smooth and milk steams slightly.

Add 4 to 5 cups of shredded cheese, 1 cup at a time, whisking as it melts.  About halfway through 1 to 2 tsp (to taste) of brown mustard, ground pepper.  Wait until cheese sauce is finished to salt, as your cheeses may be saltier than others.

Drain pasta when cooked and return to larger pot.  Pour Sauce over.  Note: The "shaped" pastas tend to hold cheese better.

Fold over with wide spoon or spatula.

At this point, you can choose to bake it in a cast iron dutch oven or serve.
Plate, salt to taste. Enjoy!

Enjoy this perfect "Fat Tuesday" dish!  
Since it is so calorically dense, this is a special occasion dish that I make once or twice a year. 

Home Made Mac N Cheese

Growing up, my mom made the best Homemade Mac N Cheese.  She would send me down to the corner store to get a One Inch chunk of C.B. Sharp (Brand) & a One in Chunk of New Yorker (brand) American Cheese.

After the Cheese sauce was made, she would mix it up with the cooked macaroni in a Cast Iron Dutch Oven (Check out the Cookware Section of: Products I recommend) and bake it.  We used to fight over who got the crunchy, cheesy outer ring!

Check back this week.  Since Monday is a Holiday, I am off school.  I will be making My Homemade Mac N Cheese.

If you'd like to make it, here's what you will need:
Unbleached white Flour
Unsalted Butter (2 to 3 Tbsp)
3- 8 oz chunks of cheese (I typically use sharp cheddar, extra sharp cheddar, fontina or Gouda; Or I buy 2 large flats of cheese chunks at Chuppa's)
1 one pound box of pasta (macaroni or a curly type work best)
Milk
Brown Mustard
Fresh Ground Pepper to taste.

You don't have to bake it.  My hubby and little man don't like it baked.  So, I generally put leftovers in a Fiestaware bowl and bake it in the toaster oven the next day.  Kinda like lasagna, this stuff reheats well.

Card Box for a Halloween Wedding Complete

So yesterday, we lined the inside covers of the guest book with this really cool, stiff felt!  Brought it all together!
We also wrapped a paper mache box (You can find them in various sizes at most craft stores!).
It looks super cute!!

If I do say so myself!

Tuna Melts with a Twist

This dish is inspired by Rachel Ray's Baked Jalapeno Poppers . . .
Tuna Salad
2 cans chunk light tuna, drained
1 Tbsp Spice Smuggler's Kitchen Herb
Garlic salt, to taste
2 Tbsp Pecorrino Romano
2 Tbsp Parmesan
3 Tbsp Light Mayo (I like Kraft's Light mayo made with olive oil)

Mix Well and set aside, to allow flavors to meld

If you do not have Spice Smuggler's Kitchen Herb, use oregano, garlic, ground pepper and onion powder to taste.  It's not the same, but it is still yummy!

Pre-heat toaster oven to 300 degrees.

Wash peppers. Cut of stem ends, remove pith and seeds. Cut off a small portion from top to tip (about 1 cm high) to make boats. Save these strips to serve with the meal.

Line toaster oven pan with foil and spray with olive oil pan spray.
Fill pepper "boats" with Tuna Salad.

Place on pan.  Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until tuna is heated through.

Sprinkle with shredded cheddar cheese, bake for another 5 minutes so cheese can melt.

Sprinkle with a bit of garlic salt if desired.

Serve & Enjoy!

Couponing at Target

I keep hearing all of these crazy stories about people saving uber amounts of cash at the grocery checkout! So I asked some of my friends on Facebook, "What's up with that and how do I find out how to do this!??"

They quickly turned me on to The Krazy Coupon Lady

I then found several other sites myself.  I see a lot of these people serve nothing but processed food to their families, which is how they can feed a family of 5 for $80 a month.  So, I am doing this, but not as extreme as some.  I still buy fresh fruit and vegetables (supplementing with frozen as needed), but I am saving enough to pay for my pet food and produce!

I have been shopping at Target for staple items since 2007.  Let's be honest, they have good deals. 

Unfortunately, we do not have a Super Target (like my cousins' in Philly) here in NEO.  We do have an AMAZING family run market around the corner, awesome produce (local in season) at delicious prices, a deli counter, fresh baked bread and "butcher" section. Note: the owner's Mom makes THE best stuffed grape leaves I have ever had!
Chuppa's Marketplace

As you know I make our yogurt, which saves us $20 a month.  I also just got my Donvier Yogurt Cheese Maker. Which makes homemade yogurt into a cream cheese like spread . . . delightful on english muffins, bagels and toast!

Target lets you use 1 manufacturer's coupon and 1 Target Web Coupon per item! They also give you $0.05 credit for each bag you bring!  So bring those re-usable bags folks! They are easy on your wallet & the environment!

So beforehand, I spend about 45 minutes clipping and matching up coupons, while making my list.
Target also likes to match up their web coupons with weekly mail inserts ( RedPlum, Procter & Gamble and Smart Source) and Sunday paper inserts.  So keep track of those! 
The Krazy Coupon Lady also gives pointers on coupon matching for many stores, including: CVS, Target and Walmart.
This week alone, I saved $38 (a three month supply of my dog's food is $37.70 w/ tax when it is on sale) . . . .

Happy Couponing!
Cheers!

Robeks-like smoothies

Inspired by a post in Pintrest, Jamba Recipes!, I made my own smoothie this morning . . .

I'd had 2 lbs of perfectly ripe bananas on my counter last week and sliced them up, placed them in ziploc bags and froze them.  I also keep bags of organic frozen berries in the freezer for when I make Oatmeal in Mason Jars . . . The only thing I didn't have was the Enlighten Blend . . .

One of my favorite smoothie shoppes is Robeks . . . or "lunch in a cup" as we used to say at work!

So here's what I did, in a Mason Jar, yes a Mason Jar ( Using Mason Jars on your Blender):
1/2 cup plain yogurt (my homemade of course)
1 scoop Vanilla Whey Powder
1 packet of Acai Energy Powder
1 Tbsp Chia Seeds, organic (High in fiber and EFAs)
1/2 cup of frozen berries (I had an open bag of mixed berries; blueberries, blackberries, strawberries and raspberries)
1/2 cup of frozen banana

About 1/4 cup of water.

Placed blender base on mason jar & Voila!

Keep an eye out for a more detailed tutorial . . . these are going to become a staple for me!
 

Slacking with my Soft Kitty!

One of my favorite shows is Big Bang Theory . . . I've been feeling shitty most of the week . . . visited Urgent Care on Saturday, etc. . . .
Needless to day, I haven't been very crafty lately . . . Although, I did manage 3 out of the four evening meals consumed this week . . . thanks to my trusty crock pot!
Anywho, I am kicking back and watching  our BBT Season 1 DVDs cuddling with my favorite "Soft Kitty and a heating pad . . .

One of my favorite episodes is when Penny gets tricked into taking care of a Sick Sheldon . . . while applying Vaporub, he teaches her Soft Kitty . . . This is one of my favorite shirts, I picked it up at Amazon! <3