Last night I had a light dinner, or was it? I have a childhood favorite and that is Graham Crackers with peanut butter and then topped with pickles. But not just any pickles folks. I happen to just love bread & butter pickles. Bubbies makes a pickle that cannot be beat. If you are like me, these pickles bring back memories of childhood. What a great taste and oh how I remember coming home from school and enjoying some of these treats.
To say I am a Mac & Cheese fan would be an under statement to be sure. Heck I have not one but at least two or three books on the topic. There are stories that still swirl about Patti LaBelle's "Over the Rainbow's" Mac & Cheese. It is really going to the moon and then some. I have made it fro friends and Super Bowl parties. She has even been on Oprah to promote it. Here is the recipe for Over-the-Rainbow Macaroni and Cheese created by Patti LaBelle.
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 F. 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 into the macaroni. In a large 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, 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. And do enjoy. But then it is time for dessert. And oh do we love our desserts don't we? But with spring, we want something a little lighter.
Finally, here is my favorite treat to cap off a day of favorites. My favorite aunt, dearly departed Aunt Val, used to make these by the pan full and they were so good. Oh my. Lemon Squares are a thing of beauty to be sure. I am so glad to have had them from the loving hands of family. How often do I see them available in bakery cases and they are like leaking syrup and just not good. The powdered sugar on top just makes them a kind of messy dessert to show the world that yes indeed I am going to enjoy. Make no excuse, just take a few and go enjoy. You will so be happy that you did.
Last night I had a light dinner, or was it? I have a childhood favorite and that is Graham Crackers with peanut butter and then topped with pickles. But not just any pickles folks. I happen to just love bread & butter pickles. Bubbies makes a pickle that cannot be beat. If you are like me, these pickles bring back memories of childhood. What a great taste and oh how I remember coming home from school and enjoying some of these treats.
To say I am a Mac & Cheese fan would be an under statement to be sure. Heck I have not one but at least two or three books on the topic. There are stories that still swirl about Patti LaBelle's "Over the Rainbow's" Mac & Cheese. It is really going to the moon and then some. I have made it fro friends and Super Bowl parties. She has even been on Oprah to promote it. Here is the recipe for Over-the-Rainbow Macaroni and Cheese created by Patti LaBelle. 
Finally, here is my favorite treat to cap off a day of favorites. My favorite aunt, dearly departed Aunt Val, used to make these by the pan full and they were so good. Oh my. Lemon Squares are a thing of beauty to be sure. I am so glad to have had them from the loving hands of family. How often do I see them available in bakery cases and they are like leaking syrup and just not good. The powdered sugar on top just makes them a kind of messy dessert to show the world that yes indeed I am going to enjoy. Make no excuse, just take a few and go enjoy. You will so be happy that you did.
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