Macaroni and Cheese

Macaroni and Cheese

serves 10

1lb elbow pasta
4 tbsp butter
1 sm red onion chopped
1/4 c. all purpose flour ( spooned and leveled)
4c. milk
2 1/2 c. colby jack shredded cheese
8 ounces diced ham
2 slices of white or wheat bread toasted.
salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cook the pasta according to directions; drain and set aside. Meanwhile, in a five quart heavy pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until softened, about 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Whisk in the flour to coat the onion. In a slow, steady stream, whisk in the milk until there are no lumps. Cook, whisking often, until the mixture is thick and bubbly and coats the back of a wooden spoon, this will take about 6-8 minutes, have patience. Season with salt and pepper,add colby jack and whisk til melted. Toss the pasta with the cheese mixture; fold in ham. Transfer to a greased 9 x 13in baking dish. In a food processor or a magic bullet pulse til large crumbs form. Toss together with the remaining 1/2 c. of colby jack cheese. Top the pasta with the breadcrumb mixture. Bake until the top is golden brown, about 30 minutes.

Chicken Carbonara

Chicken Carbonara

3 skinless chicken breasts
10 slices of bacon
1 lb of spaghetti
3 large eggs
3/4 c. grated parmesan cheese plus more for serving
1/2 c. half and half

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large stock pot get water boiling, put spaghetti in and cook according to directions. Do not drain spaghetti this all must be timed to be done togther with chicken and bacon. Place bacon on aluminum foil on a cookie sheet. Bake until crisp, remove from foil and put on paper towel, when cool, crumble it. While that is cooking, season the chicken with salt and pepper and cook in a large skillet with olive oil til cooked thru. Color=flavor. In a large mixing bowl, beat three eggs with half and half and grated parmesan set aside. When spaghetti is al dente, drain the spaghetti but leave some water behind. Add the spaghetti to the egg mixture along with the cooked chicken and crumbled bacon. The hot pasta will cook the egg mixture, make sure to stir the pasta. Serve immediately.

Beef and Broccoli bowl

Beef and Broccoli Bowl

1 (3 1/2 ounce ) bag boil-in-bag long grain rice
1/4 c. low sodium soy sauce
1 tbsp cornstarch

1 tbsp hoisin sauce

1 (12 oz ) boneless sirloin steak, cut into thin strips.

2 tsp canola oil

2 c. broccoli florets

1 c. slice red onion

1 c. chopped carrot- optional

1/2 c. water

2 tsp dark sesame oil

1/3 c. slice green onion

Cook rice according to directions.

Combine soy sauce, corn starch and hoisin sauce, a whisk is helpful. Add beef; toss to coat. Heat a large skillet over high heat. Add oil to pan; swirl to coat pan. Remove beef from marinade and add to hot skillet, cook 2 minutes until browned, flipping or stirring occasionally so all sides are browned, do not over cook otherwise the meat will be tough. Remove beef from pan. Add broccoli and the 4 ingredients to pan; cook 4 minutes or until broccoli is crisp-tender, stirring occasionally. Add reserved marinade to pan; bring to a boil. Cook 1 minute. Add beef back to pan; cook 1 minute or until thoroughly heated. Sprinkle with green onions and serve over rice.

Crustless Spinach and Mushroom Quiche

 10oz pkg of frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained
4 slices of bacon
1tbsp olive oil
2 c. coarsely chopped button mushrooms
1/2 c. chopped red sweet pepper
1 1/2c. shredded swiss
8 eggs
2 c. half and half
2 tbsp snipped fresh chives
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 c. of packaged biscuit mix such as jiffy buttermilk biscuit mix

Line a 3 1/2 - 4 qt slow cooker with a liner or generously spray it with non stick spray. Using clean paper towels press spinach to remove as much liquid as possible, set aside.

In a medium skillet cook bacon until crispy ( or put in oven at 350 until crispy) drain, crumble and set aside. Discard drippings from pan. In same skillet heat oil over medium heat and add mushrooms and sweet pepper. Cook and stir until tender. Stir in spinach and cheese.

In a medium bowl combine eggs, half and half, chives, salt and pepper. Stir egg mixture into spinach mixture in skillet. Gently fold in biscuit mix. Pour egg mixture into prepared slow cooker. Sprinkle with bacon or you can mix the bacon in with the egg mixture which I have done.

Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or on high 2-2 1/2 hours or until a knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 15-30 min before serving.