My Version of Mac N’ Cheese

May 3, 2011 6:13 am

This has become a weeknight favorite with the family, so I thought I’d share this easy pasta dish. I just use whatever veggies I have on hand from our CSA, so you can vary this with whatever you may have around.

We start with Gluten free pasta. (For any of you that are gluten free, pasta can be a tricky one. I have found that if you do a baked dish, you can’t even tell the difference.) My favorite gluten free pasta is this one. I boil it a few minutes under the recommended time, along with a bunch of broccoli. After it’s cooled, place it in your baking dish. I also added some homemade ricotta cheese at this point. (It’s WAY easier than even buying your own!)

Next cut up some onions and leeks.

Then I fry up a little meat, whatever I have on hand. It can be any kind of sausage, ham, turkey, chicken, whatever. Today, I just so happened to have bacon.

Lucky, lucky me.

After that’s done, take it out of the pan and put your leeks and onions in. Sweat them for a couple minutes.

Next comes some dark leafy greens. Tonight, we had swiss chard.

Slice it up and throw it in with the onions and leeks. Sauté it until tender.

Now for MORE flavor. Here’s my cast of cheese tonight. This is a garlic jack which is full of flavor as well as the parmesan. I add a triangle of the Laughing Cow to make it creamy.  I’ve had lots of luck with fontina and gorgonzola, too. Feta is also wonderful in this.

How much? I don’t know, not much. Maybe a cup total. Throw it in with all the pasta, chopped bacon and veggies and stir it around.

 

Then add some milk. Add just enough to where you see it coming up the sides a little.

 

Bake at 375 covered in foil for about 35 minutes, or until the milk is absorbed. Then take the foil off , add a little extra cheese to the top and bake for 10 more minutes.

Then you have a delicious, very flavorful and veggie packed dinner!

Have a great day!


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Posted in home, other, Uncategorized | 6 Comments »

Lex’s Italian Hot Chocolate

December 3, 2010 4:32 pm

My sister went to Italy and came back telling me about their hot chocolate. She said it was thick and creamy and  for whatever reason it completely enchanted me. So 7 years ago I researched Italian Hot Chocolate. I’ve finally perfected it after all this time and to not share it with you would be a crime. You’ll become famous for it. It’s one of those things you’ll think about year round and it will perplex people. It’s that good.  Trust me on this one. Go make it tonight.

Pour 8 teaspoons of corn starch in a pot.

Pour in 1/2 c. of cocoa powder.

Pour 1/2 c. water into the pot and turn the heat onto medium.

Add 3/4 c. sugar.

Mix well with a wisk.

Add 4 c. of milk.

Now, this is amazing as is. But I’ve added a couple touches that take it over the top.

Add a dash of cinnamon. You don’t want ti to be too cinnamon-y. So just a dash.

Now add a dash of hot pepper. Trust me here. It will add a little heat, not spicey with just a dash.  Don’t leave it out. Just go with me…

Now keep it stirring. It will begin to thicken as you stir. You want somewhere between hot chocolate and pudding. When it’s done, pour it in a cup.

For those of age, feel free to add a little extra something…

Now it’s time to top this baby off. Add some homemade whipped cream.

Now I’ve adapted this idea from Starbucks. They are good for something. Sorry. I know I’ve offended almost all of you by now. Pour a little caramel on top. You can use homemade or store bought.

Now for our final step- a small little supply of fleur de sel salt. Don’t try table salt, regular sea salt or kosher. You need it to be little rocks. I’ve bombed by using the other salts.

This will be your new favorite. It’s thick and creamy and you’ll get little tastes of the salty caramel the whole way down to the bottom.

Now go make it and come back and tell me how much you love it. It’s a great dessert treat and we love it with roasted chestnuts!


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Posted in home, other | 29 Comments »