Spicy Bacon Mac and Cheese

I love things that are full of whimsy and the unexpected. I wouldn't say that I'm particularly 'adventurous' (Everest holds no appeal and I don't even like sushi), but I like things that make you laugh and smile because you weren't expecting it. Like this song:

It is SO bizarre that it makes me laugh and I appreciate that. I don't know if that really translates into my cooking all that often, but I think in this instance it does.

Spicy Bacon Mac and Cheese

1/4 c. butter

1/8 c. bacon bits

1/8 c. flour

1 c. milk

1 c. cream

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

dash of black pepper

1 tsp regular yellow mustard

2 1/2 c. cheddar cheese

Fried bread crumbs (saute bread crumbs in butter until crispy) 

Cooked macaroni noodles (you'll have to eyeball how much, I didn't measure...)

Melt butter in medium sauce pan then add bacon and flour. Fry for a minute before adding milk, cream, cayenne pepper and black pepper. Stir on medium heat until sauce thickens then drop heat to low and add mustard and 2 1/4 c. cheddar cheese. Stir until completely mixed and then mix in macaroni noodles. Divvy up between as many ramekins as you want and sprinkle with cheese and breadcrumbs. Bake at 375F for 15 minutes and then enjoy!

Two Desserts

What's this? Silence for almost two months and then not one, but TWO blog posts in one day?? Crazyness!

I didn't include this in the last post because the other was all meals. These are two desserts I made that I'm supremely proud of.

#1 Apple Pie (made sometime in October)

I made this at my sister's house and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Apple pie is so fantastic...

#2 Two-toned cake, using a 1950's invention, The Magic Cake Pan.

This was a lot of fun. I did it for Aaron's nephew's birthday. It caused much hilarity, which was totally the point. 

Mmm... now I'm hungry for Apple Pie... maybe lasagna and apple pie tonight?

Cooking like a Tired Pregnant Lady

I would like to go on record saying that I have NO complaints about pregnancy. Seriously, I have had the easiest pregnancy I have heard of in a long time. That, however, doesn't mean it's as easy as being not pregnant. I think that's where I find the most problems, really. I tell people I am really enjoying pregnancy and that it's been very kind to me, and then they expect me to be just like when I wasn't pregnant. Not gonna happen. I have small bouts of very deep depression (thankfully they seem to last just a few days), and I am tired all. the. time. This tiredness is what is keeping me from being cooking extraordinaire that I enjoy being. It also means that once I'm done cooking something exciting I have to sit down for, like, three days...so blogging usually gets forgotten.

SO. I have gone through my trusty iPhone and found all the pictures from the last month (there are pitifully few) and am going to post them here. For therapy's sake.

Spinach, bacon, cheddar cheese Quiche. SO YUMMY. I'm making it again on friday, and this time I'm using fresh spinach (fried) and onions (fried with the spinach). It's going to be delicious. 

See? This is what I'm talking about. I have been so crazy tired, that store bought perogies (which aren't actually too bad if you get the Superstore No Name brand, weird as that seems) fried with onions and served with sour cream actually made it on to my blog. Sad day.

THIS was a yummy homemade meal. Roasted, Herb and Butter Rubbed Chicken with Cajun Fries and Peas and Corn. 

Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes, served with Beef Gravy and Fried Mushrooms. 

There you go. I hope you enjoyed it. I'm making lasagna tonight and, if I still have oomph left after that, I might post pictures. But don't hold your breath...