Baked Mac & Cheese

It's Cold.  It's Darn Cold. You know what that means? Comfort Food.

When I think Comfort Food, I think Mac & Cheese.

*Warning* This Recipe is not in any way shape or form healthy.  It is slightly "less bad" than normal, but not healthy - sorry, but sometimes you've got to have the real deal. We are getting our Dairy for the day. Hooray for Vitamin D & Calcium.  Also, we are eating whole "real" foods that aren't overly processed - can't say that about the mac in a box...

The Deets

1 1/4 Cup Shredded Sharp White Cheddar (Tillimook Vintage White)

1 1/4 Cup Shredded Medium Cheddar (Tillimook Medium Cheddar)

1/4 Cup Goat Cheese (No Goat? add more Cheddar or your favorite Cheese {Gouda, Gruyere, Monterey Jack are all good options})

1 Cup Sour Cream (I used reduced fat)

1/4 Cup Milk (I use skim)

1 TBS Butter

1 tsp Salt

1 tsp Pepper

3 Cups Whole Wheat Penne or Elbow Macaroni (It's best to use a pasta with ridges to hold the sauce)

The How To

In a Medium Sauce Pan mix 1 Cup of Extra Sharp & Medium Cheddar with Butter and Milk

Cook over Medium Heat until smooth 

Add Goat Cheese and Sour Cream

Add Salt and Pepper 

Cook to a smooth consistency 

Prepare Pasta according to package directions - usually 8 minutes in boiling water

Do NOT overcook the pasta

Drain and Rinse Pasta and add to cheese mixture

Mix until pasta is coated 

Transfer to a baking dish (9x9) 

Top with remaining Cheese and cover with tin foil

Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes

Uncover for the last 5 minutes

What goes great with Mac & Cheese?
Fried Chicken? Not Quite, but close.
UnFried Chicken 
The Deets
4 portions Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
1/4 Cup Panko Bread Crumbs
1 Egg
Seasoned Salt (Lawry's)
1 TBS Canola Oil
The How To
Butterfly Chicken Breasts (lay breast flat & cut parallel to cutting board cutting breast almost in half {thickness wise} stop prior to cutting through & "fold" breast open, pound or smooth by hand)
Mix egg in a bowl large enough to dip/dredge chicken in
Dredge Chicken through egg & then through the Panko Bread Crumbs (I sprinkle the bread crumbs on my cutting board - less dirty dishes)
Sprinkle with  Seasoned Salt to taste (less is more)
Heat Oil in Skillet to Medium High 
Cook Chicken for 2 minutes on each side or until golden brown
Cover and remove from heat to continue cooking

Add a Salad and/or your favorite Vegetable

Plate, Pray & Enjoy!

Note: We don't eat "White" in our house - this means no white bread, rice or pasta - we make exceptions for rice noodles, Panko Bread Crumbs & mixing flour for baking (50/50 Whole Wheat & All Purpose). This is one small way we can eat less processed foods & up our whole grain intake. 

Banana Bread

Banana Bread is one of those perfect treats on a cold day.  

It's sweet, it's bread and it has fruit in it, so you don't have to feel bad about eating it, even if it is loaded with chocolate. Plus you can add flax or nuts for a little more of a health kick.
I started experimenting with banana bread recipes back in college, my friends enjoyed countless trial runs of various recipes, even after I came up with "the one".  But no matter how many things I add, take away or mess with the ratios,  this is the best one I've come up with, I always come back to it.  I think it's perfect.  Let me know what you think.


The Deets
3/4 Cup Sugar
1/2 Cup Butter
2 Eggs
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
1/3 Cup Milk
4 - 5 Bananas (I prefer to freeze mine & then thaw them out when it's baking time)
1 Cup Unbleached Flour
1 Cup Whole Wheat Flour
1 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 tsp Salt
1 Cup Chocolate Chips
1/4 Cup Flax Seeds


Instructions
Mix Wet Ingredients 
Add Bananas & Mix Well
Add Flour, Backing Soda & Salt
Add ChocoChips & Flax Seeds
Heat Oven to 350 Degrees

I'm a big fan of the mini loaves.  
This recipe will make 4 minis or one normal loaf of Banana Bread
For the minis bake @ 350 for 35 minutes
For the normal loaf bake @350 for 50 - 55 minutes or until toothpick pulls out clean.

Enjoy!