Homemade Macaroni and Cheese

Homemade Macaroni & Cheese

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A basic homemade macaroni and cheese recipe. I quick fix that is almost as quick as the box kind and SO much better for you and so much better tasting!

INGREDIENTS:

8 oz elbow macaroni

4 Tbsp. butter

4 Tbsp. flour

2 c. milk

8oz. cheddar cheese, grated

pinch of salt and pepper

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cook Macaroni according to directions.

2. In a pot over medium heat, melt the butter to form a roux. Cook for a few minutes on medium heat.

3. Slowly whisk milk into roux. Whisk out any lumps.

4. Add grated cheese and season with salt and pepper

5. Once cheese is melted add noodles and stir until combined.

**THIS RECIPE WAS FOUND AT macheesmo.com He's got an amazing cooking blog! That's where I found my recipe for homemade cool ranch doritos too! ;)**

ENJOY! ;)

Chicken Puffs

Chicken Puffs

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This one got another 6 stars out of hubby. You can make your own homemade crescent roll dough, or you can buy the kind in a tube for a quick dinner.

INGREDIENTS:

6 chicken tenders

olive oil

pepper

1/2 onion, chopped

4 cloves garlic, minced

6 oz cream cheese (3/4 of 8oz pkg)

6 Tbsp. butter

4 (8oz) cans crescent roll dough

1. In medium pan, saute chicken over medium heat in olive oil until no longer pink. Season with pepper.

2. Remove chicken and chop into small bites.

3. Add onion and garlic to oil in pan and saute, add chicken and cook until onions are tender.

4. In medium bowl, blend hot chicken mixture, cream cheese and butter until creamy.

5. Preheat oven to 325*

6. Unroll croissants, place 1/2 Tbsp. (or less) on each triangle. Roll up.

(You can also use 2 triangles, add 1 Tbsp. mixture and fold up sides into balls.)

7. Arrange on large baking sheet (I used stoneware).

8. Bake in preheated oven 12 min. or until golden brown.

**TO MAKE THIS GLUTEN FREE FOR HAILEY, I SERVED IT ON TOASTED GLUTEN FREE BREAD!**

ENJOY! ;)

Blueberry & Cream Cheese Muffin Tops

Blueberry & Cream Cheese Muffin Tops

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These are SOO yummy! My muffin top pan is pretty big, I'd watch the time if yours is smaller. I omitted the lemon rind in the muffin and topping for two reasons; I didn't have any on hand, and I don't like lemons ;)

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/4 c. sugar

1/2 c. butter (soft)

2 eggs

2 1/4 c. flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

3/4 c. milk

1/4 c. water

2 c. blueberries (fresh or frozen, thawed and drained)

1 pkg. (8oz) cream cheese

(1 tsp. grated lemon rind)

CRUMB TOPPING:

1/4 c. sugar

1/4 c. flour

(1 tsp. grated lemon rind)

2 Tbsp. margarine

DIRECTIONS:

1. For crumb topping: combine sugar, flour (and lemon rind), cut margarine into mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.

2. For muffins: Cream sugar and margarine until light and fluffy.

3. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well.

4. Combine 2 cups flour, baking powder and salt.

5. Add to creamed mixture alternately with milk and water.

6. Add cream cheese. (You still want chunks, so fold it in or mix lightly.)

7. Toss blueberries in remaining flour.

8. Fold into batter. (with lemon rind if desired)

9. Pour into greased muffin top pan, filling each cup to the top rim.

10. Sprinkle topping over batter.

11. Bake at 350* for 15 min.

(It says to let cool for 30 min. Really? Ya, I ate these after like 10 ;)

ENJOY! :)

Fried Onion Rings

Fried Onion Rings

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I LOVE Fried onion rings! MMMMM! This is my fav recipe. Its relatively easy (although you do have to add to oil one at a time or they clump) and they are delicious. If you reheat in the oven they even make good leftovers!

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 c. all-purpose flour

1/2 c. water

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 tsp. seasoned salt (we use way more for more flavor)

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 large onion, very thinly sliced

oil for frying

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a shallow bowl, whisk the first 5 ingredients. Separate onion slices into rings. Dip rings into batter.

2. In a fryer, heat oil to 375*. Fry onion rings in batches for 1-1 1/2 min on each side or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Serve immediately.

**If you plan on reheating, store in fridge and then you must reheat in the oven (I use the broiler) or toaster oven or they will most likely just get soggy.**

ENJOY!!!

Homemade Maple Syrup

Homemade Maple Syrup

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After running out of syrup on a morning we were having waffles I found this quick recipe using just 4 ingredients and only takes 10 minutes to make! We don't buy syrup from the store anymore!

INGREDIENTS:
1 c. water

1 c. white sugar

1 c. brown sugar (2 c. if you like a thicker syrup)

1 Tbsp. maple flavored extract (the maple flavor is strong, you can use less if you don't like it)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Bring the water, and both sugars to a boil in a saucepan over medium high heat. Reduce heat to medium low and stir in the maple extract; simmer 3 min longer.

**1 c. of brown makes a pretty thin syrup, make it thicker by adding more brown, I use between 1 1/2 - 2 cups**

**The maple flavor is strong, I use a little less than a Tbsp of flavoring but we don't add very much syrup. If you like a lot of syrup, I'd cut back on the maple**

**As in all syrups, this gets STICKY! Make sure you store in a glass container**

Top on your waffles, pancakes or hootenanny!

ENJOY!

**This recipe was found on allrecipes.com submitted by "Lucynda"

Fluffy Pancakes

Fluffy Pancakes

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This is my go-to recipe for traditional pancakes. The vinegar in the milk is a homemade version of buttermilk and is what really makes these so light and fluffy! Top with butter & homemade syrup (I have one on here) or strawberries and whipped cream!

INGREDIENTS:

3/4 c milk

2 Tbsp. white vinegar

1 c. all-purpose flour

2 Tbsp. white sugar

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 egg

2 Tbsp. butter, melted

cooking spray

DIRECTIONS:

1. Combine milk with vinegar in a medium bowl and set aside for 5 minutes to "sour".

2. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in large mixing bowl. Whisk egg and butter into "soured" milk. Pour the flour mixture into the wet ingredients and whisk until lumps are gone (don't over mix).

3. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and coat with cooking spray. Pour 1/4 cupfuls of batter onto skillet, and cook until bubbles appear on the surface. Flip with a spatula and cook until browned on the other side.

Serve with butter and syrup or strawberries and whipped cream. These freeze great! Just pop in toaster over for a quick breakfast!

ENJOY!

**This recipe found at allrecipes.com submitted by "kris"**

Soft Sugar Cookies

Soft Sugar Cookies

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These are my favorite sugar cookies, because they come out soft (I LOVE soft) AND there's no rolling out the dough! So it's much faster than traditional. The sugar topping gives it a crunchy top, if you want you can also decorate with frosting instead.

INGREDIENTS:

2/3 c. shortening

2/3 c. butter

1 1/2 c. white sugar

2 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla extract

3 1/2 c. all-purpose flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

1/3 c. granulated sugar for decoration (Or frosting)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350*.

2. In a medium bowl, cream together the butter, shortening and sugar. Stir in eggs, vanilla, baking powder and salt. Stir flour into creamed mixture until dough comes together.

3. Roll dough into walnut sized balls (I use a scooper) and roll the balls in decoration sugar (I only dip the tops). Place them on an unprepared cookie sheet about 2 " apart.

4. Bake cookies 10-12 min. in preheated oven, until bottom is light brown. Remove from baking sheets to cool on wire racks.

ENJOY! :)