Macaroni & Cheese

I had this for dinner last night and tought why haven't I put this one up here yet. It's a staple in any mothers cooking repetoire. You can also change it up in so many ways to keep it interesting. All you need is a good cheese sauce and some noodle and you have mac & cheese. Of course to make this a healthy choice the noodles you use make a hyge impact. We are lucky that today in your regular supermarket you ave plenty of healthy choices. Whole wheat is definitely a good choice especially if you get the kind that have flax and omega 3 as well. Your kids will eventually if not immediately prefer these kinds. Another good way to save on some fat and calories is to use stronger flavored cheeses then you don't need as much. I like to use a very sharp cheddar. Old cheddar makes great mac & cheese.

Basic Cheese Sauce
1 Tbsp butter
1 Tbsp mustard
1 Tbsp flour (can use whole wheat)
2 cups milk
1 cup grated cheese
Salt and Pepper to taste

In a pot melt the butter then add the flour. Stir them together and cook them until the mixture is slightly golden. Add the mustard and cook another minute. Add milk slowly (1/2 cup at a time) whisking constantly. At this time season your sauce with salt and pepper. Once your sauce has thickend some (consistency of cream soup) then add the cheese and stir until it is all melted. Pour over well drained pasta.

Spicy Cheese Sauce
When you add the mustard also add 1 Tbsp sweet chili sauce, 1 Tbsp honey, 1/2 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp taco seasoning, 1 tsp hot sauce.

Some other suggestions

• You can add three onion dip mix or other flavored dip mixes (1-2 Tbsp)
• Add peas to your mac & cheese to add more nutrients
• Add meats such as cut up chicken (especially BBQ'd chicken), hot dogs, hamburger, bacon (pork or turkey)
• Change up the seasonings by adding Italian blend or garlic blend
• Use some BBQ sauce in place of the sweet chili

If you have any of your own suggestions please feel free to leave a comment so we can all benifit from what works for you family.

Eggs Benedict

Breakfast isn't just for mornings anymore. I don't get to have a really good breakfast verry often so it's nice to have those breakfast dishes I love for dinner once in a while. It's filling and let's face it breakfast recipes are usually easier and faster to make.

Eggs benedict is my families favorite breakfast entree. It is a dishthat is usually a poached egg served on a english muffin with a slice of ham and covered in hollandaise sauce. Now there is nothing wrong with doing it this way, but of course I like to change things up once in a while. The only thing you need a recipe for is the hollandaise sauce and the rest is up to you.

Instead of the traditional eggs benedict on an english muffin and hasbrowns on the side why not just serve your eggs benedict right on top of your hashbrowns. It works best for presentation on a hashbrown patty but you can use the loose variety of hashbrowns it'll just be a bit messier. Cook your hashbrowns and then top them with either a slice of heated ham or a few slices of cooked bacon. If you are using the loose variety of hashbrowns I would cut up the bacon or ham and scatter it over the hashbrowns. Top with a poached egg or if you are like me and don't like poaching egg you can cook your eggs over easy style or even scrambled if your kids don't like runny yolks. Then pour on the hollandaise sauce.

Hollandaise Sauce
In a blender mix 4 egg yolks, 1 tbsp mustard, 1 tsp honey, 1 tbsp sweet chili sauce, 1/4 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp garlic seasoning (or poultry seasoning or steak seasoning). While mixer is going drizzle in 1/2 cup melted butter. Blend until sauce is light and slightly fluffy. Feel free to play with the seasonings.

Hollandaise sauce is also very good on steamed vegetables or on steak.

Red Pepper Jelly Sausage and Rice

This is another fast and easy recipe that I created by trying to use up left over sausage and the last bit of pepper jelly I had left but it was sooo good that I tried it with different flavored jellies and also with chicken and it worked just as well. I'll give you the basic recipe first and then some of the variations I have made.

4 sausage sliced
1/4 brick cream cheese
1/2 jar red pepper jelly
2 cups chopped broccoli
1 cup chopped mushroom (optional)

In a saute pan cook the sausage (speed tip: buy already cooked sausage). Once sausage is just about done pour in the jelly and continue to cook for about 3 mins add broccoli and mushrooms and cook for another 5 mins. Stir in the cream cheese and let stand for another 1-2 mins.

Serve over rice or with noodles.

The first time I made this I used a chipolte red pepper jelly and it was fantastic. I used this kind with both chicken and sausage and it works great with both. I have also used pinot noir jelly and regular red pepper jelly. You can find different varieties of jellies in specialty food stores or if your adventurous you can make your own. You can find a recipe at allrecipes.com.

Apple Jelly Chicken

This is one of the first recipes I ever created. It was one of my go tos for the longest time and now it can be one of yours. I make mine in the slow cooker, but if you prefer it oven roasted you can roast at 400F for about 1 hour. I use my homemade crabapple jelly but any apple jelly or even grape jelly works well too.

1c apple jelly
1/4c pineapple juice
2 tbsp mustard
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp harissa or taco seasoning
1 tsp garlic seasoning
salt and pepper
1 small whole chicken

Mix everything together and pour over chicken in a slow cooker. Turn on high for 3 hours or low for 5-6 hours. Take chicken out. Turn slow cooker on high. In a seperate bowl mix 2 tsp cornstarch with 2 tbsp water and pour into sauce. Stir and let boil for a few minutes until thickened.

This chicken works well when served with garlic mashed potatoes, or rice and veggies.

Honey Mustard Tuna Melts

These are a great fast and easy meal. Serve with soup and you have a great winter meal or forget the cheese and serve with salad and you have a fabulous summer dinner. After you've tried this recipe you'll never be able to eat regular tuna salad ever again (or atleast I can't).

2 cans of tuna, drained
2 tbsp mustard
2 tbsp honey
2 tsp olive oil
2 stalks of celery finely chopped
1/4 red onion finely chopped
2 tsp dill
shredded mozarella cheese
bread of choice

Preheat oven to 325F. Mix first 7 ingredients in a bowl. Spread tuna mixture over each slice of bread. Top with shredded cheese. Place on a baking sheet and put in oven for 5-8 mins or until cheese is completely melted.

The tuna mixture makes a very tasty tuna salad sandwich and is healthier version of the mayo filled sandwiches we are used to eating. If mixture is a little dry add more oil 1 tsp or a squeeze of lemon juice.

A Must Read

I just went through all my many cookbooks to see which ones I actually used and which ones I could get rid of. Well I'm getting rid of most of them. As I was going thgough most of them I found that I would only make maybe 5 recipes in each of them. One I did keep though is Eat, Shrink and Be Merry by Janet & Greta Podleski. They have also written two other books Crazy Plates and Looney Spoons. I have made most of the recipes in all these books and I love them. I do recomend these books. These sisters try to make healthier versions of our favorite foods while trying to make it fun. I love their recipes. You can even go to their website eatshrinkandbemerry.com and sign up for their newsletter and get new recipes emailed to you.

A Ham Cup of Omelet

You'll understand this one more as you keep reading.

Breakfast for dinner
1 slice of deli ham per person
1 egg per person
2 tbsp milk
1/2 red pepper finely diced
1/2 c finely diced mushroom (optional)
1/4 red onion finely diced
1 tsp seasoning of choice (I like taco or garlic)
2 tbsp shredded cheese per person

In a greased muffin tin push the ham slices into the cups to form a bowl shape. In a seperate bowl combine the rest of the ingredients (except the cheese) and whisk together. Pour even amounts into each ham bowl. Top each one with shredded cheese. Bake in a 350F oven for about 8-12 minutes. Each person gets their own cup.

you can serve it with an english muffin or a piece of toast or with a side of hash browns. You can also change it up by using whatever vegetables you prefer and changing the cheese or the seasoning. Another idea is to add cooked bacon pieces on top.