Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese

Now this is a recipe worth waiting for.  We have gained 5 lbs each because I have tested this far to many times!  But I am proud to say, my loathe of the slow cooker phenomenon has slowly turned into a "like" relationship!

For so long a fought the slow cooker trend.  Everything I had, that was cooked in it was like mush, over cooked, or "falling apart" which isn't my favorite way to eat meat.  I used mine to keep chili and meatballs warm on football Sundays!  That was the extent of our relationship.  I slowly in the last year of worked through some of my issues with the slow cooker and maybe have actually enjoyed a few things made in it.  I still don't get the recipes that made you brown or sear meat or do other things first and then put them in the Crock Pot so I steer away from that kind of nonsense.  I mean if you are making things easy, why dirty 3 pots and pans and go through 5 steps before even getting it into the pot?  Yea, not for me. Some people make this with already cooked macaroni.....WHAT?  I don't want mush!

So here is my recipe, I hope you enjoy it.  As long as you mix the liquids first, you can do it all INSIDE "Crocky" and then anticipate the goodness that is to come!

3 cups milk
15 oz can of cheddar cheese soup/sauce
1/4 tsp yellow mustard
1/4 tsp salt
pepper to taste
3 cups UNCOOKED macaroni
8 oz. shredded mild cheddar cheese
1/2 cup butter, chunked up for the top

Whisk the first 5 ingredients together inside your slow cooker.  Add in macaroni and cheese and stir  to combine.  Chunk up your butter and lay it all over the top.  Stir again.  Now set your slow cooker on low for 2.5 hours.  Make sure to stir once or twice during the cooking process just to make sure all ingredients are dancin' and romancin'.   It will be perfect!  I promise!

ENJOY!  We sure have a couple or 4 times!  HEY, don't judge.  It had to be perfect!

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Twin Pickles Snack Packs

Oh you GUYYSSSS!!!  I have missed you all!  I want to take a minute to extend my thanks and gratitude for the prayers, light, love, and well wishes  you have all sent through social media.  My family has endured a lot of loss in the last 2 months, my mom and then my brother.  I am getting back to what they both would want me to do, and that is cooking!  Cooking and sharing, they were two of my biggest fans.  I love you Mom and Jimmy......

Let me introduce you to the cutest little people on earth.  This is Emmi and Logan.  They are my 2.5 year old twin grand babies.

When I returned from my brothers funeral, I decided I needed a day with my littles.  For those who just arrived to the party, I call my grandchildren my littles.   I also call them my "pickles".  Sometimes sour and sometimes sweet! HA!   I had not seen them in a week and it was time to hear some laughter and do some hard core playing!  We decided to make our own snack packs.  Are they any healthier than trail mix, etc you can buy in the store?  No.  In fact, I planned to pop my own popcorn, but just cheated with some store bought cheddar popcorn.  Are they better than gummy snacks?  Definitely.....in my recent chance meeting with an oral surgeon who decided to keep 4 of my teeth, I was watching some information on the damage they do to kids teeth.  Ick.  Really this was just a fun way to start letting them help in the kitchen, be excited about what they are eating and yes, I think it is far cheaper than anything you buy in the store.

Also, the teacher in me was super excited as well.  They would name each item they took out, we would talk about what color it was and they ate every single thing.  I threw in a few M&M's for fun, and a few chocolate covered raisins as well.  If your children or grandchildren like something more than another, add more of that.  Add tons of everything, or omit what you don't like.  This is not really a recipe, just the portions I used.  The world is your sandwich my friends, make it like you like it!  Also, my grandchildren have no nut/peanut issues, so that is completely of course, based on your kids.

Now, could we have put these in cute bags with a cute tie or something?  Yes....but these are just for home, and freshness.  We used Ziploc bags.  Fill them as much or as little as the little people (or big) will eat or enjoy!

Here is how we did ours!

5 cups Cheddar popcorn (or pop your own!)
4 cups pretzels
3 cups goldfish or cheddar crackers
2 cups dried, diced pineapple
1 1/2 cups mixed nuts
1 cup M&M's
1 cup chocolate covered raisins

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl and portion out into resealable baggies!

Spend some special time with the children in your lives.  When you are feeling some of your darkest times, they will lighten your heart like a beacon of hope and love.  They laugh, they love, and they bring about a feeling of renewal.  When kids help in the kitchen, I find they are more willing to eat what they help make.  Perhaps not in every case, but in many.  So spend some time with them, no phones, no tablets, no video games or movies, just give them your undivided attention for a little while!!!  It sure brightened my day.......  I hope you enjoy my "twin pickles"!

Snack well my friends!

Banana Split Cupcakes

Can you believe I have NEVER, in my life, ordered a "Banana Split"?  Seriously!  Never. 

As a kid, we all got the same thing, a small cone.  Money was tight, and we would fight over any discrepancy so, my dad went ordered us small cones, across the board!  There is a story in my family from before I was born.  Apparently my dad and mom got all the kids an ice cream cone, which happened back then, about one time a summer.  Remember I am the youngest, (aka Perfect 10) of 10 kids!   When the kids in the back seat started arguing about someone having a taller cone, my dad pulled over, grabbed every single ice cream cone, INCLUDING my moms and threw them all out the window.  Not a word was spoken, which for my dad, is worse than ANYTHING.   My mom is still ticked off to this day!! HAHA!  He wouldn't tolerate greediness of any kind, at any age, especially when ice cream was such a rare treat.  Anyway, so even when I was little, it was sort of the same, but by the time I came along I probably got to pick my own flavor!  Secondly, I don't like fruit.  I just couldn't imagine the ruination of perfectly good ice cream and hot fudge sauce, with all that.......FRUIT! 

These cupcakes however, perfection.  A little bit of a dense-ish banana cupcake, pineapple frosting, sprinkles, chocolate and a cherry.  I mean, get outta here.  The pineapple flavor is very subtle.  You can choose to add some crushed pineapple that is VERY well drained or just use the juice. (hubs wants actual pineapple added next time) No matter what, these look like you labored hours in the kitchen and the reality is, they are so quick and easy.  This recipe makes 12 cupcakes and the frosting will perfectly frost all 12!  It is cupcake season, birthdays, school treats, school bake sales, parties, you name it.  These will be a hit no matter WHO you serve them too!

Here we go! Cake recipe first!

Banana Cupcakes
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup mashed bananas
1 egg
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Mix all ingredients together in a bowl.  Fill 12 liners in a cupcake pan with the mixture.  Bake 13-15 minutes, remove from oven and let cool in the pan.

NOTE: This is a dense cake, amazingly flavorful but a bit dense.  If you want a fluffier cupcake, use a cake mix and banana extract.  I would personally, go with my version :)

Pineapple Frosting
1/2 cup softened butter
3 tbsp. pineapple juice
2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup marshmallow fluff
(optional) 1/3 cup crushed pineapple

Mix all ingredients.  I piped mine on but feel free to use a knife or however you frost cupcakes!

Garnishes
Maraschino Cherries (blotted off on paper towels so the juice doesn't run)
Sprinkles of your choice
1/2 cup chocolate chips or melts (melted)

When the cupcakes cool, then frost.  Add sprinkles while icing is still fresh and make sure to top with a cherry at this time!  Let sit in the fridge or on the counter for 1 hour then drizzle with chocolate! 

ENJOY!

Your "no fruit in my splits please" Chefwannabe

Citrus Spritzer

I have to admit something. 

I recently visited my mom, who, though she completely is lost by this "blogging" thing, is very supportive of it.  She has been "going through" everything in her house, because she knows I love all kinds of dishes to photograph on and just for general use. 

Well, I knew I wanted to make a citrus drink but I also wanted a clear pitcher.  For some reason, I do not own a clear glass pitcher.  So while doing dishes, I spot one in her cupboard.  Now, she has shrunk to about 3'7 and I know she doesn't even remember it is in the TOP of the cupboard let alone use it.  So I finish the dishes, put on my best "perfect 10" face and into the living room I go.  It went something like this:

Me: Hey Mom, you don't happen to have a clear glass pitcher you want to get rid of do you?
Mom: I don't think so, let me think.
Me: (waits patiently, baring my pearly whites)
Mom: If I do ,it would be in the corner cupboard on the top shelf of the lazy susan. (where they have been for at least 150 years)
Me: Ok, I am going to look.  What if I find one?
Mom: Well, bring it here if you do.
Me: (goes into kitchen pretends to bang things around).  I FOUND ONE!!
Mom: Let me see it!
Me: OMG it is perfect for what I need.  Do you USE it?
Mom: No but it belonged to Marie.
Me: And?
Mom: Well, I don't really want to get rid of it.
Me: Mom, be real here, when is the last time you used it.
Mom: Well probably never but that is beside the point.
Me: You said you are cleaning things out, just think of what a good home this will have.
Mom:  Let me think about it. 
Me: Ok well do you want me to put it back in the cupboard or put it in this box of stuff you found for me.
Mom: Chris, you aren't going to trick me into giving it to you.
Me: Mom, there is no statute of limitations on child abuse and you spanked me with a wooden spoon, at LEAST 5,000 times as a child. 
Mom: If you don't put that pitcher back in the cupboard you are going to see me turn this walker into a deadly weapon.
Me: Mom, you seem angry, are you ok?  Is this part of dementia that is likely setting in?
Mom: The only demented thing about ME is giving birth to YOU. 
Me: Give me the pitcher mom, just do it.
Mom: FINE.  Take the pitcher but if I want it back you better give it back.
Me: You won't, but ok.

See it is all about wearing them down kids!  Even at 39, I can wear her down.  Really we were laughing so hard during this conversation it was pretty hilarious, perhaps you had to be there. 

Anyway, to the point at hand.  What is better on a hot summer day than a refreshing, cold beverage?  Water is almost always my first choice, but this citrus drink, is SO refreshing, you won't want to be without it!

I think this would be great served for a party, a meal, or just an afternoon by the pool, in the backyard, anywhere! 

1 12oz container of frozen limeade concentrate
2 oranges (1 sliced)
2 limes-sliced
1 lemon-sliced
1 liter Sprite/7 up/Sierra Mist OR Prosecco
1/4 cup sugar (optional, use it if you think it needs it)

Mix limeade according to package directions in a large pitcher.  Cut one orange in half and squeeze into limeade, discard when you have squeezed all the juice from them.  Stir.  Add in citrus 20 minutes before serving.  If you add it before that, the peel will bitter your beverage.  Pour a glass 1/2-3/4 full of limeade and then spritz it with your carbonated beverage of choice.  Make it alcoholic or don't, the choice is yours!

NOTE! Make sure to get extra fruit to garnish glasses or to add a slice into each glass when serving!

I hope you try this and I hope you love it so much, you have to keep making it!  It is the perfect summer refresher, that can be made in one pitcher, and spritzed for either a drinker or a non drinker!

Your "aaahhhhhhh this is perfect" Chefwannabe

Mexican Rice

Hola! 
(this is all the Spanish I know basically)

Really, I crack myself up.  
So, I had a conversation under one of my son's dinner photos about Mexican or Spanish Rice with a reader.  I always say I am a big Mexican food fan, but the reality is, I don't like onions much, and I loathe beans if you remember.  I don't like shredded meat in Mexican food, has to be ground beef or chicken.  Ultimately, I think I am a complete "poser".  Is that word outdated now?   Anyway, a reader said her rice always turns out sticky.  I wanted to make her a new version but the truth is, I like my Mexican Rice a little sticky guys!  You could easily make this rice fluffier by reducing the amount of liquid by about 1/3 cup, letting it cook and then fluffing it up.  I just like a little stickage and stuff.  I like all other rice fluffy and wonderful but Mexican rice...

So I will share my recipe, you can love it or lump it.  I use a prepackaged rice for this.  So go with it, or don't and just use my method.  Yes, I realize it is sodium laden.  You can use salsa that is mild, or hot, it is completely up to your taste.  I ADORE this rice.  It is so good just alone, but when I decided to try and use it for Mexican Rice I was pleasantly surprised at how much excellent flavor it added.  I do use some fresh onions and peppers as well as the salsa.  I think you need some freshness in with store bought items to give them some life again.  We are eating this rice tomorrow with my Enchilada Casserole and I can't wait!

Mexican Rice
1 tbsp butter
1/2 cup diced bell peppers (any color)
1/3 cup minced onion
1/3 cup salsa
1 1/3 cups water
1 pkg of Yellow Rice (saffron rice)

 

Melt butter in a medium saucepan.  Add in onions and peppers and saute for 2-3 minutes until softened.

  

 

Add in salsa and water. 

 

From here on out, follow the directions on the back of your package.  Mine called for 1 2/3 cup water, I reduced it to

1 1/3 cups to compensate for the addition of salsa and its liquid .  Does that even make sense?  I hope so!  

 

You can garnish this with green onion, cilantro, whatever you choose.  Don't even comment on how salt laden the package of rice is.  I realize that, but it is one packaged item I cannot live without.  If you want to omit the package of rice, follow all of the steps and add in 1 3/4 cups of chicken stock and 1 1/2 cups of rice.  Use instant or regular.  This has great flavor and isn't to spicy.  You know how to kick it up if you want it spicier though!!

Serve this next to enchilada's!  Yum!!

Your "where IS my sombrero"chefwannabe

Chris