All Recipe's Chuck's Favorite Mac and Cheese

Browsing the What's Cooking boards one day I stumbled over this beauty.

Ingredients

• 1 (8 ounce) package elbow macaroni
• 1 (8 ounce) package shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
• 1 (12 ounce) container small curd cottage cheese
• 1 (8 ounce) container sour cream
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 cup dry bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup butter, melted

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil, add pasta, and cook until done; drain.
2. In 9x13 inch baking dish, stir together macaroni, shredded Cheddar cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper. In a small bowl, mix together bread crumbs and melted butter. Sprinkle topping over macaroni mixture.
3. Bake 30 to 35 minutes, or until top is golden.

Spence loved this so much he insisted it become our weekly mac and cheese dish. I agree, it was great. With a smile on my face I obliged, but told him not to forget about the baked beer mac and cheese!

Homemade Meatlover's Pizza

Ingredients:

• 1 roll of Pillsbury rolled pizza crust

• 1 pkg. Mozzarella cheese

• 1/2 can of Tomato sauce

• pinch of Basil

• 5-6 pieces Turkey Bacon

• Hamburger (use however much you like)

Roll out pizza crust to desired thickness on a pizza sheet. Brown hamburger and microwave bacon. Spread tomato sauce over unbaked crust. Sprinkle the basil on top. Next top with the package of cheese. Follow with the cooked hamburger and bacon. Bake in the oven at 425 for 8-13 minutes. Enjoy!

You can use whatever toppings you would like - Spence and I usually like the meatlovers. This is our version, but usually on the Pillsbury pizza crust tube you can follow the directions on there for their pizza.

Chocolate Chip Malt Cookies

Ingredients

1 cup butter-flavored shortening
1-1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup malted milk powder
2 Tbs. chocolate syrup
1 Tbs. vanilla
1 egg
2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
6 ounces milk chocolate chips

Instructions:
In mixing bowl, combine first five ingredients; beat 2 minutes. Add egg. Combine flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture, mixing well after each addition. Stir in milk chocolate chips.

Drop by tablespoons 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 8 minutes or until starting to brown. Cool at least 2 minutes before removing to wire rack. Yields about 2-1/2 dozen cookies.

I made these for a recent cookie exchange and they are AMAZING. I think these will be my go to cookies. I know I will never make just plain chocolate chip cookies again. They taste the best right out of the oven warm, but that doesn't stop me or my husband putting a couple in the microwave to warm and enjoy!

BBQ Ranch Chicken and Texas Road House Biscuits & Cinnamon Butter

I first saw this recipe on Amy's blog and then I followed along and noticed Molly made it too! It had to be good - I trust these women's palates.

I made this with just 2 chicken breasts, but here is the original:

4 chicken breasts

3/4 cup BBQ sauce

3/4 cup ranch dressing

Shredded Cheddar cheese

Chopped green onions (optional)

Bacon bits (optional)

Mix ranch and BBQ sauce together and pour over the chicken in a frying pan. Let simmer on medium to high heat for around 20-30 minutes until cooked.

There are some complaints that the chicken gets dry, but that hasn't happened to me. The sauce does thin out. If the sauce mixture starts to dry out, you can always add some water.

Sprinkle with shredded cheddar, green onions and bacon bits. Enjoy! (I forgot to do this step - Ooops! You know I was distracted when I didn't add CHEESE!)

Now on to the Texas Roadhouse Butter! I found this here.

• 1 cup butter (a.k.a 2 sticks)
• 1/3 cup sweetened condensed milk, chilled
• 1/2 teaspoon corn syrup
• 3/4-1 teaspoon cinnamon, to taste

Place all ingredients in a food processor (I used a hand blender) and blend until mixture is smooth. Serve with hot rolls or muffins. This may be stored in the refrigerator.

Verdict: The hubby loved these, however I found them too sweet. I would either cut down on the corn syrup or the milk. But I will probably make it again!

Pumpkin White Chocolate Chip Cookies

1/2 c. butter
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 egg
1 c. pumpkin
2 2/3 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 c. chocolate chips (Used white choc. chips)
1/2 c. nuts, optional (Didn't use)
1 c. raisins, optional (Didn't use)

Cream together butter and sugar. When smooth and creamy add vanilla, egg and pumpkin.

Mix dry ingredients together and sift 2 times. Then add to pumpkin mixture mixing well. Add chocolate chips and optional nuts/raisins. Drop by spoonfuls on cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes.

This recipe makes about 40 cookies. I used white chocolate chips, but you could use regular chocolate if you like - I didn't want the chocolate to overpower the pumpkin and I would really suggest using the white chocolate chips in this recipe.

This was a hit at my recent fall family get-together from Cooks.com. My husband, who isn't a pumpkin fan even enjoyed these. This will become a fall staple in our household.

Slacking!

Instead of cooking yummy food and sharing it with you, my life has been consumed with buying a home. I have many new recipes for you and can't wait to start cooking in my new kitchen in early September!

Please stay tuned - in the meanwhile, see my home blog here: themistressofoxford.blogspot.com

Baked Beer Mac & Cheese

• 3T Butter

• 3T Flour

• 1 1/2 C Milk

• 1 1/2 C Beer

• 5 C mixed cheese (cheddar, mozerella, parmesean)

• 1lb Ziti or other shaped pasta (cooked)

Melt Butter in saucepan and whisk in flour stirring for 2 minutes over medium heat.

Add Milk to mixture and cook until bubbling.

Add Beer into mixture and cook until bubbling- cover partially and cook 10 minutes stirring periodically.

Add in Cheese and stir until melted.

Add in Pasta, Salt, Pepper, Hot Sauce, or any other spices you like. (We just used s &p)

Bake in a buttered 13"x9" baking dish at 375 for 35 minutes- let cool 10-15 minutes before eating

Beer + pasta in a main meal?!!! It was awesome!!!!!