Macaroni & Cheese Over-the-Rainbow

Photograph by Leticia Alaniz © 2014

On movie night as a family we’re always trying to decide what good and yummy treats we can enjoy while watching a wonderful movie. One of my favorite options is always a creamy Macaroni and Cheese.  This is a favorite no fail recipe by Patty LaBelle.  She calls it Over-the-Rainbow Macaroni & Cheese and it does literally transport you to magic land. This delicious casserole dish is always a great crowd pleaser! Because this recipe only takes about 35 minutes to bake you can enjoy it every movie night!  Follow the recipe for an Over-the-rainbow Macaroni and Cheese and enjoy a great movie night with your family.  

Servings: Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 pound elbow macaroni
• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) plus 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded Muenster cheese
• 1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded mild Cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack
• 2 cups half-and-half
• 1 cup (8 ounces) Velveeta, cut into small cubes
• 2 large eggs , lightly beaten
• 1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt
• 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Farenheight. Lightly butter a deep 2 1/2-quart casserole.

Bring the large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the oil, then the elbow macaroni, and cook until the macaroni is just tender, about 7 minutes. Do not overcook. Drain well. Return to the cooking pot.

In a small saucepan, melt eight tablespoons of the butter. Stir in the melted butter into the large cooking pot with the macaroni. 

In a medium bowl, mix the Muenster, mild and sharp Cheddar, and Monterey Jack cheeses. 

To the macaroni, add the half-and-half, 1 1/2 cups of the shredded cheese mixture, the cubed Velveeta, and the eggs. 

Season with salt and pepper. 

Transfer to the buttered casserole. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup of shredded cheese and dot with the remaining one tablespoon of butter.

Bake until it's bubbling around the edges, about 35 minutes. Serve hot.

Juliana's Sugar Cookies

Photograph by Leticia Alaniz © 2014

With a few basic ingredients you might find in your pantry, you can make sweet sugar cookies.  You can make them very simple or decorate them as creative as your imagination.  Flour, sugar, vanilla, butter, and an egg just about sums it up.  You can can cut them in many different shapes and for this recipe I chose to cut them with a fluted shape cookie cutter made by Cuisipro.  Try this recipe any time of the year to share with your friends.

Sugar Cookies

2 3/4 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

3/4 cup butter, softened

1/2 of white sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).  In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and baking powder.  Set aside.

2.  In a large bowl cream together butter and sugar until smooth.  Beat in egg and vanilla.  Gradually blend in the dry ingredients.  Roll dough onto ungreased cookie sheet and cut or score with desired cookie shape.  Do not remove from the cookie sheet.

3.  Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden.  Let stand on cookie sheet five minutes before removing.

   

Classic Oatmeal Cookies

Photograph by Leticia Alaniz @ 2014

Hello!  This is my very first post.  Today I decided to surprise my family before they woke up with  some classic warm oatmeal cookies.  They were a big hit!  Oatmeal cookies are some of my favorites and they're great to eat anytime of the day.  But today was extra special as it is below freezing outside and it is drizzling ice!  There is nothing more wonderful than warming a house with the sweet aroma of fresh baked cookies.  Below is the Quaker Oats ® recipe which I'm sure will be a big hit in your house too!

Vanishing Oatmeal Walnut Cookies

1/2 cup (1 stick) of butter softened
1 cup of sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour 
1 tsp baking soda 
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt (optional)
3 cups Quaker Oats ® (Quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
1 cup chopped walnuts

1. Heat Oven to 350 degrees F.  In a large bowl beat butter and sugar on medium speed of electric mixer until creamy.
2.  Add eggs and vanilla; beat well.
3.  In a separate bowl combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt; mix well.
4.  Combine both mixtures.
5.  Add oats and walnuts; mix well.
6.  Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.  
7.  Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until light golden brown.  Let cool completely before storing. 

Makes two to four dozen cookies