Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Cheater mac and cheese

Tonight I wanted something fast and easy for dinner. I also wanted something cheap. So upon inspection, my fridge offered up a package of shredded cheddar cheese and some left over evaporated milk. My pantry offered 3/4 of a pound of salad macaroni.

So, I cooked the macaroni and returned it to the hot pot. I then poured in about half a cup of milk, and started adding the cheese by the handful, letting it melt between each addition as I stirred it in. I seasoned it with salt, pepper, onion powder and garlic powder. I used just over half a pound of cheese, but use it and the milk to taste for a cheesy, creamy sauce.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Four cheese mac & cheese with roasted broccoli

Tonight I used up my left over cheese from the grilled cheese sandwiches I made.

I boiled a pound of macaroni. In another pot I made a simple roux of 3T each flour and butter. I then added 2 cans of fat free evaporated milk (the only ki d of fat free dairy I can tolerate!!) I then stirred in my left over cheddar, jack and Gouda that was pregrated from the other night (between 2 and 3 cups). I also stirred in about 3oz of cream cheese. I season with salt and pepper, and mixed it with my cooked and drained macaroni.

The broccoli was super easy. I brought 3 stalks of broccoli, which I cut off into flowerettes. I sprinkled them with oil and salt, spread them on a baking sheet and cooked at 375* for about 20 minutes. It was a yummy alternative to steamed broccoli :)

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Gourmet grilled cheese

My friend Tiombe posted a pic this last week of a grilled cheese sandwich she had ordered at a restaurant (sorry! Don't remember the name :P ). I decided, since I am not in southern California to go to the restaurant to try one, I would make one myself.

I combined shredded cheddar, jack an Gouda cheeses as described in the restaurant sandwich. I also combined some smashed garlic with soft butter. I spread garlic butter on one side of a piece of bread, and coated it with grated Parmesan cheese, then placed it butter side down on my preheated griddle. I then piled a generous amount of mixed cheeses on the bread. I repeated the butter and Parmesan cheese treatment on another piece of bread, and put it butter side up on the sandwich on the griddle. I cooked it until both sides were golden and cheese was melted.

It was yummy, especially served with a cold hard cider :) Thanks, Tiombe!

Monday, September 5, 2011

Happy Labor Day! After fighting with my BBQ yesterday, all was well today. We had chili rubbed chicken thighs, grilled sweet potatoes with paprika and thyme, and grilled corn on the cob. It all cooked at the same time, all on the grill.

I soaked the corn, in it's cleaned husks, for several hours. When ready, I tied it closed with kitchen twine. I rubbed salt and chili powder on my chicken. I peeled and sliced my sweet potatoes lengthwise about 1/2 inch thick and coated them with olive oil, salt, pepper, dried thyme and sweet paprika. I cooked the chicken indirectly (pushed the hot coals to the two sides, put a foil drip pan in the middle with the chicken over it) and the potatoes on one side of the coals and the corn over the other coals.

The potatoes were done after about 15 minutes, and the chicken and corn took about 25. When the potatoes were done, I broke them up into large pieces and tossed them with the left over oil and seasonings.

It was all very yummy! I drank a Strongbow hard apple cider with it. Very nice :)