Crockpot Mac and Cheese by Trisha Yearwood

Talk about decadent and rich!  That’s this ooey, gooey homemade mac and cheese recipe for the crockpot! When I tested it straight out of the crockpot, I could not stop eating it.  Total comfort food!

Crockpot Mac and Cheese by Trisha Yearwood

8 ounces cooked elbow macaroni
One 12-ounce can evaporated milk
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1/4 cup (1/2 stick ) of butter, melted
1 teaspoon salt
Dash of pepper
2 large eggs, beaten
Two 10-ounce bricks sharp Cheddar cheese, grated (about 5 cups)
Dash of paprika
Cooking spray (I just buttered the dish)

In a large 4-quart slow cooker sprayed with cooking spray (or buttered), mix the macaroni, evaporated milk, milk, butter, salt, pepper, eggs and all but 1/2 cup of the grated cheese.

Sprinkle the reserved cheese over the top of the mixture and then sprinkle with paprika. Cover and cook on low heat for 3 hours and 15 minutes. (Mine was done in about 2 1/2 hours).  Turn off the slow cooker, stir the mixture and serve hot.

Cook’s Note: If you don’t have a slow cooker, grease a 9-by-13-by-2-inch pan with butter, add the mixture and bake at 350 degrees F for 50 minutes.

recipe courtesy of Food Network

~Did I mention that my daughter has a guitar signed by Trisha Yearwood?  :)  It was a 15th birthday gift from her grandpa.

 

…

 

SHARED WITH:

Swiss Chicken Casserole

When I saw this chicken recipe over at The Southern Lady Cooks,  I knew I had to try it.

My daughter loves Stove Top Stuffing and I knew she’d love this casserole.

I’m trying to watch my calories so I decided to use reduced fat items where I could.  My recipe is just a little different than the one at TSLC, but it’s hopefully just as tasty.

Swiss Chicken Casserole

6 skinless, boneless chicken breasts (I used 10 chicken tenderloins)
6 slices 2% Swiss cheese, sliced
1 (10.75 oz) can condensed reduced fat cream of chicken soup
1/4 cup skim milk
water
2 cups dry bread stuffing mix (I used Kroger brand)

Preheat oven to 350º.

Arrange chicken in a lightly sprayed 9 x 13 baking dish.
Top with Swiss cheese slices.

Combine soup, skim milk, and about 1/4 cup water and stir well.
Spoon mixture over chicken and sprinkle with stuffing mix.
I then sprayed with some butter flavored spray, (Sure miss my buttah!)
but if you’re not counting calories, drizzle about 1/4 cup of melted butter
over the stuffing.

Cover and bake for 50 minutes. Serve with your favorite green side dish.
Serves 6 fairly large portions.

~I attempted to do a little figuring on the calories and came up to about 315
per serving.

…

Partying today over at

Carbonara

I ran across this super rich classic bacon and egg spaghetti dish and it sounded so easy and delicious that I just had to try it!

Talk about the ultimate comfort food.   It has everything I love…bacon…pasta…and cheese!  Yummo!

Disclaimer: I am not an expert on authentic Italian cooking.  :)

Carbonara

1 lb. spaghetti *pasta
8 slices bacon, cut in small pieces
1 clove garlic, minced
4 egg yolks
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
diced green onions
salt and pepper

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.  Cook the pasta as directed on package.

Fry bacon and garlic in a heavy skillet until crisp (mine is actually more done that what it looks like ).   Remove bacon from pan and drain on paper towels. Set bacon aside.  Set skillet aside, but save bacon fat.

Meanwhile, combine the egg yolks, half of the Parmesan cheese and salt and pepper in a medium bowl until well blended.

When the pasta is cooked, drain, reserving about 1/3 cup cooking water, and immediately add to the skillet with the bacon drippings.   Place over low heat and toss for 1 minute, scraping the pan to loosen the pan drippings.

Stir in the egg mixture and toss thoroughly until combined. Add the pasta cooking water as needed to form a creamy sauce.  Add the bacon and remaining cheese and toss again to coat.  Top with diced green onions.  Serve immediately.

*Can substitute Dreamfields Spaghetti to lower carbs.

Another option is to use diced ham instead of bacon.  I believe the authentic recipe calls for pancetta, which is a yummy salt-cured Italian bacon made from un-smoked pork belly.

…

From Wikipedia:

Pasta alla carbonara (usually spaghetti, but also fettuccine, rigatoni or bucatini) is an Italianpasta dish based on eggs, cheese (pecorino or Parmigiano-Reggiano), bacon (guanciale orpancetta), and black pepper. The dish was created in the middle of the 20th century.

The pork is fried in fat (olive oil or lard), then hot pasta is dropped into the pan to finish cooking for a few seconds. A mixture of raw eggs, cheese, and a fat (butter, olive oil, or cream) is then combined with the hot pasta away from additional direct heat to avoid coagulating the egg, which must remain a liquid component of the sauce as it cooks.  Guanciale is the most usual meat, but pancetta, or local bacon are also used.

Cream is not common in Italian recipes, but is often used elsewhere.  Other variations on carbonara outside Italy may include peas, broccoli, mushrooms, or other vegetables.  Many of these preparations have more sauce than the Italian versions.   As with many other dishes, there are ersatz versions made with commercial bottled sauces.

…

Linking up over at

Help on my homemade biscuit quest

I’m on the quest for the perfect biscuit.

I plan on trying a new recipe on Saturday.  This cooler weather always makes me want to bake!

Do you have or know of a fabulous biscuit recipe I should try?

I’m looking for plain and simple biscuit recipes with no additions like cheese or spices…one you’d have for breakfast with your sausage gravy and eggs.  :)

Anyway, if you have a great recipe, please post the link or recipe  in the comments section.

Thanks!

Easy Cheesy Chili Mac…low carb comfort food!

Easy Cheesy Chili Mac

1 pound lean ground beef 

1/2  medium onion, diced

1 (14 1/2 ounce) can Italian style stewed tomatoes, undrained

1 1/2 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese, divided

1/2 cup  sour cream

1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

salt and pepper, to taste

8 ounces dried Dreamfields Penne Rigate (2 cups)

 

Cook ground beef and onion in large skillet.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Brown beef until no longer pink.  Drain fat.  Stir in tomatoes with juice, 1 cup Cheddar cheese, sour cream, chili powder and garlic powder.

.

Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions; drain.

.

Add chili mixture to pasta and stir until pasta is coated.  Place in a 2 qrt baking dish.  Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese.   Bake at 350º for 30 minutes until hot and bubbly.  Serves 4

…

Linking with…

Easy Peasy Beefy Cabbage Casserole

I got the idea for this dish from my lovely sister-in-law, Dorothy, in Kentucky.

She’s such a sweetheart to have supper waiting on us when we drag in late at night!  Love you, Dorothy!

I don’t think it’s as good as hers, but then food always seems tastier when someone else does all the work!  :)

Beefy Cabbage Casserole

1 teaspoon vegetable oil

1 pound lean ground beef

1 small head cabbage — cut up

1 large can diced tomatoes

1/4 onion — chopped

1 teaspoon salt

1 dash of pepper

1 cup cheddar cheese — shredded

Brown beef in the oil, pour off excess fat. Add cabbage, tomatoes, onion, salt and pepper. Cover and cook slowly until the cabbage is translucent, about 20 minutes. Transfer mixture to a greased casserole dish. Top with shredded cheese and place in 350º oven until cheese is melted and slightly browned.  Serves 6-8.

 

…..oOo……………oOo……………oOo……

I’m joining the party over at