Monthly Archives: September 2010

So last week included more entertaining than I have done in the last few months. Whether it be my new place or just a desire to cook I hosted two of my girlfriends from college last Thursday for dinner. I love trying new recipes everytime we meet for dinner (mostly because they love to try new food). So this round I decided to make homemade Mac and Cheese. Easy? Yes. I love Mac and Cheese and have been wanting to try to make it (read: not out of a box) for sometime. I wanted a simple recipe with few ingredients.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups sharp cheddar (shredded)
• 1 cup Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup butter
• 2 TBS butter
• 1 -2 cups Milk
• Crumpled Cheez-its
• Frozen Broccoli

Recipe:

Melt butter and add in flour – stir until thick.

Add in cheese (just dump it in) and stir until melted. Add milk until it reaches the desired consistency.

Pour the cheese over the noodles and mix thoroughly. I also added frozen broccoli (in an attempt to increase the health factor). Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. For added crunch I included crumbled cheez-its on top before baking.

In addition to the Mac and Cheese I made a salad – field greens, blue cheese, walnuts and grapes. Yum!

All in all, a very delicious meal.

When my friend Lindsey asked me to teach her how to cook something I was slightly overwhelmed at the options of potential meals. Chicken? Fajitas? Pasta? The options were limitless. What came out was an eclectic grouping, bruschetta, steamed artichokes and apple dumplings.

First up, bruschetta:

Ingredients:

• Tomatoes
• Fresh basil
• Finely chopped white onion
• Olive oil
• Garlic (fresh and in powder form)
• French Bread

This recipe is quite simple, chop up all the ingredients, mix with garlic and olive oil and let it set. Slice and toast the french bread (*lesson learned: brush the bread with olive oil and garlic and then toast it). Top the tomato mix on the bread and enjoy!

Melisa liked it.

Lindsey like it.

Part two of our eclectic meal: Steamed artichokes.

Step one: cut off the tips (as performed by Lindsey)

Step two: place upside down in a bowl with about an inch of water, cover with saran wrap and place in microwave. Microwave 9 minutes for 1 artichoke.

Let cool and enjoy!

Part 3: apple dumplings. Unfortunately, I did not take any pictures, because well, I was more focused on eating them!

Recipe:

Use ready-made biscuits and place a sliced and peeled apple inside (I would suggest either putting half an apple or chop the apple into pieces) a biscuit and seal the ends. To make the topping mix together sugar, cinnamon, butter, water, vanilla and some flour and microwave until melted. Pour on top of biscuit. Bake the biscuit 30(ish) minutes and add another layer of the cinnamon mixture midway through. (Lesson learned: sprinkle the apples with some cinnamon sugar and butter before putting it in the biscuit).

Eat and enjoy!

What’s your favorite eclectic meal??