Super Duper Easy Mac and Cheese

As I continue the journey to cut out all things created in a lab and placed into a box to be consumed on our dinner table, I suddenly had the craving for macaroni and cheese. I've made homemade macaroni and cheese before. It was time consuming and blah. This recipe sounded too easy to be true. Alas it wasn't! It was creamy and my sister even said it's better than from a box! It only called for 8 oz macaroni noodles, I ended up using 16 oz of shells...hello leftovers! As always be reminded that I use gluten free products.

Ingredients:
16 oz shell noodles

1/4 c butter

1/4 c flour

salt and black pepper to taste
1/4 t dried mustard (this is optional)
2 c milk

2 c shredded cheese (I used sharp cheddar)

Directions:

Cook noodles
Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat
Stir in flour, mustard, salt, and pepper

At this point you'll need to stir constantly

Slowly add milk - simmer until bubbly

Stir in cheese until melted

Add noodles

Bayou Brownies

The name of this dessert is deceiving because there is no chocolate in this recipe. However, they are DELICIOUS. Make them when you're going to have company or you will end up eating the whole batch yourself. Seriously.

Ingredients:
1 c chopped pecans
1/2 c butter, melted
3 large eggs
1 pack yellow cake mix
8 oz cream cheese, softened
16 oz powdered sugar

Directions:
Combine pecans, butter, 1 egg, and cake mix
Stir well
Press into bottom of a greased 13x9 dish (set aside)
Combine 2 eggs, cream cheese, and powdered sugar
Beat at medium speed until smooth
Pour over cake mix layer
Bake at 325 for 40 minutes
Let it cool completely in pan on a metal wire rack

Zuppa Tuscana

Yet another successful recipe of me sneaking something green and leafy into J's diet :) He had this at Olive Garden but did NOT care for the texture of kale. Well, kale looks a lot like spinach. So, I convinced him to let me make it at home and use spinach instead. It worked!

Ingredients:
1 lb. Italian sausage
4 slices of bacon, cooked (I actually didn't have bacon and it was still tasty)
1 yellow onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic
32 oz. chicken stock
3 c russet potatoes, sliced
3/4 t salt
1/4 t pepper
10 oz spinach
1 c whipping cream
Parmesan

Directions:
Cook sausage - drain
Saute onion and add garlic
Stir in stock, potatoes, and bacon
Season with s/p
Simmer until potatoes are tender
Add spinach and cream
Bring to simmer
Serve and top with Parmesan

Ground Beef Vegetable Soup

Ooo de lolly...J ate green beans. And LIKED it!!!!!! I never thought I'd see the day. This soup has the right amount of kick and is very satisfying on a winter day.

Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef
1/2 onion, chopped
1 T flour (I use gluten free)
1 can Rotel
1 small can tomato sauce
15 oz beef broth
2 c water
2 can sliced new potatoes (drain)
1 bag mixed veggies
1 t Italian seasoning
1 t chili powder
1/2 t red pepper (optional)
1/4 t celery seed
1/2 t garlic powder
s/p to taste
1 c elbow macaroni

Directions:
Brown meat and onion, drain
Mix beef, onion, and flour well
Add other ingredients except macaroni
Cook on medium heat for 25 minutes
Add macaroni and cook for 10 minutes

Chicken Tater Tot Casserole

You know I love my slow cooker. I especially love my slow cooker when I can put chicken in raw! This is a great comfort meal without totally blowing all the healthy eating. Serve it up with something green to ease the dairy and carb train :)

Ingredients:
32 oz tater tots
3 oz bacon bits
1 lb diced chicken, raw
2 c shredded cheese
3/4 c milk
s/p to taste

Directions:
Spray crockpot with PAM
Layer 1/2 tots in bottom of cooker
Sprinkle 1/3 bacon bits and cheese
Add chicken
S/P
Sprinkle 1/3 bacon bits and cheese
Layer 1/2 tots
Sprinkle 1/3 bacon bits and cheese
Pour milk over
Cook on low 4-6 hours

It can't be a comfort meal without having some calories. Hey...it could be a big ol fried mess of grease. ;)

No Peek Beef Tips

This takes a bit of time to cook, but once you pop it in the oven you can forget about it until the timer dings!

Ingredients:
2 lb stew meat, beef
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 pack brown gravy mix
1 pack dry onion soup mix
1 c water

Directions:
Preheat oven to 300 degrees
Mix last 4 ingredients well
Place beef in oven safe baking dish
Pour gravy over beef and mix well
Cover with foil and cook 3 hours
Serve over rice

*I am in the process of making my own mixes to eliminate more gluten and additives from our diet. Stay tuned as I post recipes for mixes!

Pioneer Woman's Pecan Pie

The Pioneer Woman is always coming up with wonderful concoctions. Over Thanksgiving I made her pecan pie and it was a huge hit. You can also find this recipe on her site with lots of other tasty treats!

Ingredients:
1 whole unbaked pie crust
1 c white sugar
3 T brown sugar
1/2 t salt
1 c corn syrup (I used light colored)
1/4 t vanilla
1/3 c melted butter (salted)
3 whole eggs (beaten)
1 c (heaping) chopped pecans

Directions:
Mix white sugar, brown sugar, salt, corn syrup, vanilla, butter, and eggs in a bowl
Pour chopped pecans in the bottom of the unbaked pie shell
Pour syrup mixture over the top
Cover the top and crust lightly with foil - bake at 350 for 30 minutes
Remove foil and bake another 20 min being careful not to burn the crust or pecans

Pie should not be overly jiggly when you remove it form the oven! If it shakes a lot, cover with foil and bake for an additional 20 min or until set.

Allow to cool for several hours or overnight.