I'm Back...

I've decided that it is time to start this blog again... I realized it has been almost two years since I have posted anything and I really have missed it. My life is still busy... probably even more so now than ever before having added to our family since, so the need for quick and easy dinners still readily exists. So... here it goes.

Monday's dinner. We had homemade Macaroni and cheese, green beans, and chicken patties. Total time to make was 30 min. I found the Macaroni recipe on one of my favorite blogs: http://www.realmomkitchen.com/ . It was very easy and most importantly my kids and honey loved it.
I liked this recipe much better than oven macaroni because it wasn't dry like the oven type can get.

Stovetop Mac and Cheese

• 3Tbs Butter
• 1/4 C Finely chopped onion (optional but recommended)
• 1/3 c all-purpose flour
• coarse salt
• 4 cups milk
• 1/8tsp cayenne pepper
• 16oz small pasta (I used elbow macaroni) uncooked
• 5 c grated sharp yellow cheese
• 1 tsp Dijon Mustard
• 1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce

1. In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium; add onion and cook until softened. add flour and 1/2tsp salt; cook stirring frequently, until mixture is pale golden, has a slightly nutty aroma, and is the texture of cooked oatmeal - about 5 min.
2. Whisking constantly, pour in 2 c milk; add 2 more cups milk and cayenne and whisk until smooth. cook mixture, stirring constantly along bottom of pan, until boiling, 6-7 min. Reduce heat to low. Simmer gently, stirring occasionally until sauce thickens and does not feel grainy when a small amount is rubbed between two fingers, about 10 min.
3. Meanwhile, in a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta until al dente; drain thoroughly and return to pot. remove sauce from heat and let cool 10 min. quickly whisk in cheese, mustard and Worcestershire. Pour cheese sauce over pasta and stir to coat.