Mac and Cheese #2

If you remember back a couple of weeks ago, I posted about my quest to find the best Mac and Cheese - one of my favorite foods!

So, here we go - this is a super simple recipe that only calls for 5 ingredients. It's easy to make, tastes great and this is MY family mac and cheese! It doesn't matter who makes it for family dinners - my mom, SIL or I - we always make it this way!!

Just a few simple steps:
1) Boil macaroni, drain and put into casserole dish

 2) While it's boiling, chunk up your cheese - although you can choose any kind, we always use COLBY!

 3) Add milk to your cooked macaroni. No measurement here - just until it comes up maybe 1/3 of way from bottom. You can look at the side of dish to measure!

4) Add salt and pepper and stir it around a little.

5) Add your cheese chunks - mix them in. I usually poke some down to the bottom and the sides.

6) Bake at 350 for 45 minutes covered with foil and then 15 more minutes without the foil to brown the top! Enjoy!

My Little Man saying 'cheese' for Mac and Cheese! This recipe gets great scores for being easy to make, simple ingredients and tastes great. Although I really like this mac and cheese and was raised on it - I'm still working on that one that is out of this world! Stay tuned!!

Link up your recipes below!

Can't wait to see what you link up this week for 2 Maids a Baking!!

Fiesta Chicken Chowder

Here is a yummy soup to warm you up on a cold day!!

In a plastic bag combine flour, seasoning and chicken and shake to cover. 

Saute the chicken.

Remove and keep warm. In the same pan saute the onion. 

Add garlic.

Stir in water, tomatoes, corn, rice, chilies and beans.  

Add remaining fajita seasoning and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 5 minutes. 

Stir in the soup, cilantro, lime juice and chicken. 

Heat through. 

Enjoy!!

Fiesta Chicken Chowder:
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 envelope fajita seasoning, divided
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
3 tablespoons canola oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 cups water
1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (14-1/2 ounces) Mexican stewed tomatoes, undrained
1 can (11 ounces) Mexicorn, drained
1 cup uncooked instant brown rice
1 can (4 ounces) chopped green chilies
1 can 11 ounces) condensed nacho cheese soup, undiluted
3 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon lime juice

1. In a large resealable plastic bag, combine flour and 2 tablespoons fajita seasoning; add chicken. Seal bag and shake to coat. In a large saucepan, saute chicken in oil until no longer pink. Remove and keep warm.

2. In the same pan, saute the onion until onion is tender; add garlic, cook 1 minute longer. Stir in the water, beans, tomatoes, corn, rice, chilies and remaining fajita seasoning. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat; cover and simmer for 5 minutes or until rice is tender.

3. Stir in the soup, cilantro, lime juice and chicken; heat through

Chocolate Bundles with Chocolate Sauce

Here is a recipe that would be perfect for your Valentine!!

I can't wait to make them again and stuff them with apples and caramel!!

This is simple enough it would be lots of fun to make with your kids!!

Start with your puff pastry. 

Sprinkle your surface with flour.

Allow puff pastry to thaw, covered for 30 minutes at room temperature.

Start your egg wash by beating the eggs. 

Add the cream. 

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. I'm not very good at tearing it out!!

Unfold the pastry and cut the sheet into four 4 by 4 squares.

Brush the entire surface of each pastry square with the egg wash.

Pick out your favorite candy. There only happened to be 2 snickers left by the time I made these... I blame the hubby!! hehe!

In the center place 2 chocolate kisses and 2 mini candy bars.

Pull the corner of each square up around the chocolate and twist the top of the dough to complete the 'bundle."

Brush the exterior of the bundle with more egg wash.

Place the bundles on the cookie sheet. 

Bake about 35 minutes, until golden brown.

To make the chocolate sauce,

in a small saucepan, bring the cream to a boil and add the chocolate pieces.

Whisk until the sauce is smooth.

Slice up some strawberries to make it look pretty!!

Top with sweetened whipped cream and enjoy!!

Chocolate Bundles with Chocolate Sauce

Bundles:

1 sheet frozen puff pastry dough

2 eggs

1 teaspoon whipping cream

8 chocolate kisses

8 miniature chocolate candy bars

Chocolate Sauce:

1/2 whipping cream

4 ounces milk chocolate broken into small pieces

Sweetened whipped cream (optional)

Sliced fresh strawberries, for garnish

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
2. To make the bundles, allow the puff pastry to thaw, covered, for 30 minutes at room temperature. When it is pliable, unfold the pastry and cut the sheet into four 4 by 4-inch squares.
3. Beat the eggs and cream together to make an egg wash. Brush the entire surface of each pastry square with the egg wash. In the center of each pastry square, place 2 chocolate kisses and 2 mini candy bars. Pull the corners of each square up around the chocolate, and twist the top to complete the bundle. Brush the exterior of the chocolate bundle with more egg wash.
4. Place the bundles on the cookie sheet. Bake about 35 minutes or until golden brown.
5 To make the chocolate sauce: In a small saucepan, bring the cream to a boil. Remove from heat and add the chocolate pieces. Whisk until the sauce is smooth.
6. Puddle the chocolate sauce on a plate and place a bundle on top. Top with whipped cream and additional chocolate sauce, if desired. Serve the bundles garnished with strawberry slices.


Can't wait to see what you have been busy cooking up!! Link all those great recipes below!!

Blackberry Bran Muffins - 2 Maids a Baking

Hello there! I am finally starting to feel better! So sorry I haven't been around much and haven't been around to visit. I will be making the rounds soon!!

Since it is January I thought I should have one recipe that falls in the "healthy" category. 

Don't let the "healthy" fool you, they still taste awesome!! 

Start by adding your bran flakes to a mixing bowl. 

Add your buttermilk, 

sugar,

baking soda, 

salt,

maple flavoring, 

oil,

and flour. I added 1 cup whole wheat flour

and 1 1/4 cup white flour. 

Mix all the ingredients together. 

Should look something like this. 

Refrigerate for 6 hours. I usually make the dough the night before and bake the muffins in the morning.

Spray your muffins tins. 

Scoop and place in the pan.

Press down on the balls to cover the bottom of the pan. 

I had some blackberries that I popped in the freezer late this summer. 

Add a couple to each muffin. You could also add any other fruit you would like. I have also made them with a small teaspoon of fruit preserves. Just make sure you don't get the preserves on the side of the pan of the muffins will stick. 

Top with another scoop of muffin batter. 

Press down and bake. 

This dough stays fresh in your fridge for up to 6 weeks. Which I love because I can bake what we will eat and pull it out a week later and bake them up again!

Enjoy!!

Blackberry Bran Muffins:
6 cups bran flakes
2 cups buttermilk
1 1/4 cup sugar
2 1/2 tsp baking soda
2 1/2 cups flour
2 eggs
1/8 cup maple flavor
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup oil
1 cup blackberries/fruit or fruit preserves

Mix all ingredients together. Refrigerate at least 6 hours before baking. Bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes or until done. Batter stays good for up to 6 weeks.


What have you baked lately?

Link up all your great recipes below!!

Linked to:
Trick or Treat Tuesday
Muffin Monday