Home made mac n cheese (almost)

I love mac and cheese but thought it needed some work so I made a recipe that makes my heart pitter patter.

1 box Kraft macaroni and cheese (I usually buy generic everything but I have found in mac and cheese it is worth it to buy the real thing.)

1/4-1/2 lb. bacon

1/2 to 1 C. Shredded cheese. (I like cheddar or colby jack, whatever you please.)

Chop bacon onto small pieces and cook in frying pan on med. high heat.  While the bacon is cooking get your water boiling, add a little salt and oil to the water, turn heat to high.  Once the water has reached a full boil add macaroni and turn heat to med. high.  Cook for 6 minutes, then strain.  (I like my pasta al dente, meaning it is not quite all the way cooked when you add your sauce it finishes cooking it.)  Melt 4 tbsps. butter in the microwave or on the stove, add the milk then the cheese sauce the mac and cheese comes with.  Mix well then melt in the shredded cheese.  Salt and pepper to taste and add bacon. Pour mixture over your noodles and mix well.  Enjoy!

*A variation I like adds hot sauce to the cheese mix, gives it a bit of a bite.

Perfectly Cooked Broccoli

    So many people tell me they hate cooked broccoli.  Typically the broccoli they have eaten has been overcooked and does indeed taste terrible.  Here is how to get the perfect broccoli every time just firm enough with great flavor.

Broccoli
Water
Salt n pepper
butter

    Cut broccoli to desired size (I like to include the stocks they taste great.)  Place in pot and fill till covered about one inch in water.  (the broccoli will float so just estimate.)  Place on burner on high heat and bring to a boil.  Turn to med. high cover and cook six minutes.  Remove, drain water.  Salt pepper and butter to taste.  It will come out perfect every time, but I cant promise your kids will like it!

Chewy Brownie Cheesecake

I love brownies and I love cheesecake, when i found a recipe that combined the two I was in heaven, enjoy!

Cooking Spray
Fudge Brownie mix
3 (8 oz.) pacakges cream cheese
1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
3 eggs
2 t. Vanilla extract
1/2 C. chocolate chips

HEAT oven to 350°F. Spray bottom only of 9-inch springform pan with no-stick cooking spray. Prepare brownie according to package directions for chewy brownies. Spread evenly in prepared pan.  Spread evenly in prepared pan, bake 35 min. REDUCE oven temperature to 300°F. Bake 50 minutes or until set. Cool. Chill thoroughly. Remove side of springform pan. Garnish as desired.BEAT cream cheese until fluffy in large bowl. Gradually beat in sweetened condensed milk. Add eggs and vanilla; mix well. Stir in chocolate chips. 


* To prevent chocolate chips from falling all to the bottom coat first with flour.  Chill at least 4 hours for best consistency.


*A springform pan can be found at target for 9 bucks for a package of three.  They look like this.  


Sour Cream Topping


1 C. sour cream


1 1/2 T. sugar


1/2 t Vanilla extract


Beat together and spread over the top before chilling.  


As Pictured is also garnished with whipped cream, chocolate chips, and cocoa powder.

mindblowing pulled pork

  I do not care for bland food, I guess you could say I am not a roast and potatoes fellow, I can enjoy these meals once perhaps a couple times a month, I just don't jump for joy for blandness.  I like things that pop and kick and sizzle and sazzle and whuzzle and cherupm and so forth.  I often like to take classics and twist them to fit my tastes.  Thus I have created several culinary concotions to stimulate once stagnant taste buds, one herin I shall share with you all.

 You don't have to have a lot of money to make an amazing meal nor do you have to slave away in the kitchen for hours.   You can use simple ingredients to cultivate a meal that will impress your friends and put a grin on your kids lips.  The total time you will spend on this is about 20 minutes and will spend around 4 dollars (can vary greatly depending on the brand of bbq sauce you use.)  Anybody can make this and have it be delicious.  Here is what you will need:

First boneless county style pork rib (these do not have bones and are extremely cheap I usually pay around $1.29-1.89 per pound.  Currently on sale at maceys for $1.59/lb)  1.5 lbs will feed around 6 people.   As long as you have some delightful side dishes.

Second you will need a crock pot, if you don't have one buy one you are missing out on one of the worlds greatest inventions and can pick one up for as cheap as $15.00

Third you will need either 2 small onions or one medium sliced thin, about 1/2 cup of water per pound of pork, some brown sugar, some honey, and a bottle of bar-b-que sauce

Put half the onions in the crock pot, then dump in the spare ribs they can be frozen or defrosted i prefer defrosted, pour in water add about 4 tbsp. brown sugar, some honey I don't know a couple table spoons maybe, the rest of the onion, some salt and pepper, don't be afraid to be generous with the salt and pepper, then set the crock pot to low.  Pretty tough huh?  Let it cook for six hours.

Now that you have done the easy stuff you are ready to get intermediate, prepare yourself.  Get out a bowl, Using tongs move the meat from the crockpot to the bowl,  us the tongs to shred the pork by just squeezing the meat, it will be so tender it will shred perfectly.  Last, mix in your favorite bar-b-que sauce, I have used everything from famous rays to great value (wal-mart brand) and it all turns out  scrumptious.   Mix in as much sauce as you want and return to the crock pot on warm setting for a couple hours or whenever you're ready to eat.  Serve on rolls or buns or just by itself.  It goes a long way and I eat it as leftovers for days.  It reheats perfectly

I hope you will enjoy my recipe and if you don't oh well your tastebuds suck or you are a lousy cook.  Have fun bon apetit!

Quick Delicious Scones

These scones take about 15 minutes total including cooking time. They are great served with chili or peanut butter and honey! 

Ingredients:

1 1/2 tsp  instant yeast

1/2 cup  warm water

1 1/2 tsp sugar

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 cup  milk

1 1/2 Tbs shortening

1 1/4 tsp salt

2-3 cups flour

1 frying pan of oil for cooking

Directions:

     First proof your yeast. You do this by combining the sugar yeast and water. Let stand for about 1 min. You want the water to be about the same temperature as bath water. Not hot enough to burn but enough to activate the yeast. Your mixture should be slightly foamy and the water should look about the consistency of milk. 

     Next, add the baking powder, milk, salt and shortening. Mix until even. The shortening will not mix in all the way with out the flour so don't worry.

     Finally, add 2 cups of flour and mix well. If the dough is still sticky after mixing add the last cup of flour about 1/4 of a cup at a time, checking consistency as you go. The`reason you do this is because the amount of flour you will need will change each time you make any bread type dough. The amount will be affected by the temperature in your home, the humidity outside and so forth. When the dough is no longer sticky, but not to stiff to knead easily, knead for about a minute. 

     Let the dough rise for 10 min. (This is a good time to start your oil heating)

When you are ready to shape your scones pull a small amount apart from the rest. You will want to get about a palm size circle. (unless your hands are very large, then use half!) To shape, start with both hands at the top of the dough and hold up straight in front of you. Pull edges apart slowly working around the circle until you have it about 1/4- 1/2 inch thick.Like you are making a pizza crust. 

The oil:

You will want to fill a frying pan with about 1 inch of oil. The amount will vary depending on the size of your pan. Heat at medium high for about 5-10 min. To check if your oil is hot enough, pinch off a very small piece of dough and drop it into the oil. As soon as the dough hits the oil it should begin to sizzle and bubble, if it does not, your oil is not hot enough. Be very careful with frying scones, oil may pop out of the pan so keep away kids or pets. 

Cook until brown on one side and then flip using tongs and brown the other side. 

Tips:

* If you get a large air bubble in one as it cooks simply poke it with a fork to release the air. If it does not go down right away it will when you flip it over, so don't panic.

* If your dough is too stiff to shape, add about a tablespoon of water and knead again and let raise. Scone dough is very forgiving. 

* When kneading, put flour or oil on your counter top to keep it from sticking. Though the dough should not stick to your hands, it will stick to surfaces. 

* While shaping the scones it helps to put a little bit of oil on your hands.