Friday, October 31, 2008

Food For Friday...

Nothing beats a bowl of good Macaroni & Cheese. I am very proud to say that I have finally been successful in getting my children to eat homemade macaroni and cheese. As far as they were concerned, nothing was better than good ole' Kraft Macaroni & Cheese. That kind is good when you are in a rush, but how could it possibly be better than homemade? I don't understand. Maybe it's just a kid thing. Don't think I haven't tried over the years to introduce them to homemade. I have. Lots of times. The recipes I was trying just couldn't replace the macaroni and cheese that came in the blue box. Until this...



A friend of mine came for lunch this week. Carrie brought some leftover macaroni and cheese that her husband ( who happens to be an awesome cook!) had made. It was good. I needed this recipe. She told me it's the recipe they use at Hoggy's in Columbus, Ohio. I've never even heard of the restaurant, but it was a favorite of theirs. "You can get it off the internet.", she said.

After getting my son from school, I made a stop at the grocery store so that I could get the few ingredients needed to make this dish. That night. I told you it was good!

This recipe was such a hit in our home, my daughter was talking about it the next day. Score one for Mom!

Macaroni & Cheese

1 1/2 cups cottage cheese
2 cups elbow macaroni pasta, cooked & drained
2 cups mostacolli pasta, cooked & drained
1 1/2 cups sour cream
2 eggs, beaten
24 oz. cheddar cheese, shredded
salt & pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients and place in a 9x13 dish. Bake at 375 degrees for 40 minutes.



I'm also sharing a recipe for Macaroni & Cheese that I was using prior to finding the other one. What I like about this one is that it cooks in the crock pot. It's good, but I honestly think the one above is BETTER!

Extra-Cheesy Macaroni & Cheese

1 (8 oz). pkg. shredded Italian three-cheese blend
1 (8 oz.) pkg. shredded sharp cheddar cheese
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 (12 oz.) can evaporated milk
1 1/2 cups milk
1 t. salt
1/4 t. dry mustard
1/4 t. ground red pepper
1/2 t. pepper
8 oz. small shell pasta, uncooked

Combine cheeses in a bowl; set aside. Whisk together eggs and next 6 ingredients in a large bowl. Stir in pasta and 3 cups cheese mixture. Pour mixture into a lightly greased crock pot. Sprinkle with 3/4 cup cheese mixture. Cover and cook on low 4 hours. Sprinkle servings evenly with remaining cheese mixture.

* The setting on my crock pot for 4 hours is actually the HIGH setting. I stir the macaroni and cheese a few times during the cooking time to prevent burning the edges. Keep an eye on it towards the end as it will dry out and burn. You probably could try it on the 6 hour setting, I just haven't done it.




18 comments:

  1. Oh my stars! That looks INCREDIBLY DELICIOUS! I cannot wait to try this. Oh, I just ate breakfast, and I could so eat a big plate of this right now...

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  2. YUMMY! Both of those look so good!

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  3. I LOVE mac 'n cheese. LOVE IT! Can't wait to try both of these... Thanks for the great recipes. Have a super weekend!

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  4. I love it when you post recipes! You know, I tried your little pumpkin sandwich cookies (I forget what you called them...) and brought them to a neighbor last weekend. She emailed me within 24 hours asking for the recipe! So now your recipes are getting famous in Colorado! Have a great weekend Christy! :)
    Carrie

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  5. I too love Mac and Cheese....(not the blue box..but homemade)...I'll be sure to add these ingred. to my shopping list for tomorrow.

    :-)

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  6. I love Mac & Cheese...I'm going to have to try that. Oh, and your coasters were darling!

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  7. Love this! We grew up on real mac too! Now I need to use your recipe to get the TIgers to eat the real thing. Thanks for your recipe.

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  8. Looks yummy. Thanks for the recipe, this is my daughter's favorite food. I'll give it a try.
    Happy Halloween.

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  9. My little brother is the exact same! He is graduating from college this year and he still won't eat the delicious real mac & cheese. Only Kraft or Kraft shells & cheese for him. I *love* the real stuff! The boxed mac & cheese doesn't even come close to the homemade in my book. That picture made me crave some warm, cheesy, mac & cheese. :) Such a great comfort food!

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  10. That is so funny about what you said about your kids because I was the same way. When I was young, I loved the cheap (not even Kraft, the really cheap kind) mac and cheese. Now I probably wouldn't even eat it because I LOVE the homemade kind. I'll have to try this recipe and see if it's better than my mom's. Thanks!

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  11. It loods delicious! I can't wait to try it. My kids are the same about the blue box! I'll have to try this, especially since it fits in with my crock pot life.
    The seasoning packet I used for my chicken and noodles is Helmuth. I'm not sure you will be able to find it because it is made here in Hutchinson!

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  12. The decals on my plates are stickers - SO EASY! Just stick 'em on there! I got them at Joanns, but I'm sure they have them at other craft stores, usually with the scrapbooking stuff.

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  13. Ohhhhhhhhhhhh, I think I gained 5 lbs just reading this post!!!!
    YUUUUUUUMMMMM!!

    M ^..^

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  14. This looks scrumptious. Macaroni and cheese is one of my all-time favorite foods, and I just printed out these recipes to try this coming week. :)

    By the way, we had your BLT salad again tonight. We just love it!!!

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  15. That looks so good! I completly get the kids not liking the homemade mac and cheese! what's up with that? I am gonna try it! Thanks!

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  16. That looks just wonderful!!! YUM!!!
    -sandy toes...I love mac n cheese:)

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  17. That is too funny, because everytime I make homemade mac and cheese my kids say the same thing about Kraft. I have thought, "well then, why bother" but this gives me hope. :)

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  18. Mmm.mmm.mmm!
    I have got to try the 1st one! (I usually make the crockpot version) It looks so yummy and ... low fat! wink wink

    One of my favorite dishes in the world ... real mac-n-cheese

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