Bacon, Broccoli, Mac and Cheese

 The original recipe for this can be found here.

However, I found I didn't have enough patience after work to go through a few extra steps, and I didn't want to add onions, so here's my (sl)easy work night version...

Ingredients:
6 C broccoli, steamed, but still a bit firm
2 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 box of pasta (I used the veggie mix pasta)
3 C low fat milk
1 cup shredded cheeses (1/2C sharp cheddar, 1/2C your choice)

 Directions:
1. Heat up milk and pasta in a pot over medium heat.  Cook until pasta is al dente.
2. Stir in 1 cup of cheese shreds until smooth.
3. Toss in broccoli and bacon.
4. Serve and enjoy.

You can play around with this recipe, add more or less, change out broccoli for spinach or a different green veg, etc.  I made 6 good sized servings, and they're just as good for leftovers as they are that first night!

Sausage Cheddar Balls

Sometimes you get in a meatball rut, you know?  It's so easy to throw together some grape jelly, chili sauce, BBQ sauce, meatballs, or whatever to serve as a warm meatball dish.

Okay, so maybe this sausage cheddar meatball recipe is from Martha Stewart, but it's fairly easy to create, you just have to be willing to get your hands dirty!

 For me, one of the biggest selling points of this recipes is that the meatballs are baked.  Once you've rolled them, you just put them on your parchment paper and bake this up.
The problem?  I thought they turned out a little dry.  Maybe when you're so used to drenching the meatballs in sauces, you forget what normal meatballs taste like.  Regardless, I served them with some dipping sauces, like home made chutney.  Most people, however, ate them as is, so maybe the sauceless balls play!

I love that you just lift them out of the grease before serving.  Save those calories!!

A new style of Broccoli...

The importance of following directions lie in this recipe for Broccoli Cheddar Gratin.



My biggest problem about the way it turned out was how the bread crumb mixture was just everyone, but the cheese wasn't.  See?  I mixed the crumb mix in the broccoli, but put the cheese on top.  Turns out, it was all supposed to be that way.

Oops! Sorry, y'all. Maybe it'll turn out better when you actually follow the directions, and try not to do it from memory for a group of people!!

Also, it might have helped if I made it more like au gratin potatoes and added a cheese soup to it.

Hmm...sounds good.  Maybe tonight will be an au gratin kind of night!

Better luck next time!!