Tasty Tuesday!

"Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family."
-Anthony Brandt


Hello!

So, another Monday has passed, another dinner under our belts, and many more to cook. Some days I wonder, as I am sure you do too, why I bother. I mean the preparation for a meal is enough to make some people run for cover, then you have the actual cooking process, not to mention clean up! PHEW! No wonder why so many people eat out...it is easier.

That being said, I just cannot imagine life in my home without our family dinners. Don't get me wrong, we still go out to eat quite a bit, but we also share many evenings gathered around the table enjoying each others company. After all, isn't that what all the work is for?

As tired as I may be at the end of a day, sitting down with my husband and two boys, eating a home cooked meal is as good as it gets. We have laughter, seriousness, "grossness," silliness and everything in between. But most of all, we have each-other exclusively for that one hour. No phone, television, computer, video games, etc.. It makes all the meal preparation worth its weight in gold.

Today I would like to share a dish that everyone will love and hope you are able to experience all emotions that a family dinner can evoke, after all: It's Priceless.


"The family is one of nature's masterpieces."
-George Santayana



Easy Macaroni & Cheese

Serves: 8

Ingredients:

* 4 Tbs. butter
* 4 Tbs. all-purpose flour
* 3 cups milk
* 3 pinches ground nutmeg
* 3 pinches freshly ground pepper
* 2 cups shredded yellow cheddar cheese
* 2 cups colby-jack cheese
* 4 Tbs. grated Parmesan cheese
* 1 Lb. rotini pasta, cooked al dente and well drained
* 1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs


Directions:

1.) Place the butter in a saucepan over low heat and warm until the butter is melted.
2.) Add the flour to the melted butter.
3.) Using a whisk, stir the flour and butter together until the mixture is smooth and bubbling but not browned, about 1 minute.
4.) Increase the heat to medium.
5.) Stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, slowly pour the milk into the saucepan.
6.) Continue to stir and cook until the mixture is smooth, thickened and gently bubbling, 6 to 8 minutes.
7.) It should be about as thick as melted ice cream.
8.) Remove the saucepan from the heat.
9.) Add the nutmeg and pepper and stir several times.
10.) Add the cheddar, colby-jack and parmesan cheeses.
11.) Stir until the cheeses have melted and the sauce is smooth.
12.) Add the pasta to the saucepan with the cheese sauce.
13.) Stir the pasta gently until it is well coated with the cheese sauce.
14.) Pour mixture into an oven-safe casserole.
15.) Sprinkle the bread crumbs over the top.
16.) Bake at 350° about 15 minutes.
17.) Spoon the macaroni and cheese into bowls and serve immediately.


"Family is just accident.... They don't mean to get on your nerves. They don't even mean to be your family, they just are."
-Marsha Norman


Joke of the Day:

Things to Think About

1.) You spend the first two years of their life teaching them to walk and talk. Then you spend the next sixteen telling them to sit down and shut up.
2.) Grandchildren are God's reward for not killing your own children.
3.) Mothers of teens now know why some animals eat their young.
4.) Children seldom misquote you. In fact, they usually repeat word for word what you shouldn't have said.


Have a great day and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!