It's What's for Dinner!

I've never really done this before, but seems like it's only

fair to share some of our favorite meals....

Tortilla Soup comes in many different forms, but

I love this meal and it couldn't be easier!

Put 3 largish chicken breasts in a crock-pot with Taco Seasoning

(I use a packet of Lawrys Chicken Taco Seasoning), cook 4 hours on high

then shred the chicken. Add 2 cans of corn, black beans, diced tomatoes,

and chicken broth. 1 can (4oz) diced green chilies

cook 4 hours (or more) on high

Serve over crushed tortilla chips, top with cheese, avocados, and sour cream

You won't be sorry you made it!

Again, there are a lot of ways to make mac and cheese,

but I haven't found one I like more than this

Old-Fashioned Mac & Cheese

1 pound of macaroni, slightly undercooked and drained

4-5 cups of béchamel sauce (white sauce) – see below

8 cups of shredded cheddar cheese (I use sharp)

dehydrated onion

salt and pepper to tasted

buttered breadcrumbs – see below

In a 13x9 pan add about half the cooked macaroni; top with half the béchamel sauce, sprinkle about 1-2 tsp of the dried onion over the sauce, then spread a couple of big handfuls of cheese, making a nice thick layer. Repeat. Top with buttered breadcrumbs and bake until bubbly around the edges, the cheese is melted, and the breadcrumbs are toasty, about 30-45 minutes.

Note: it may seem like a lot of sauce, but the macaroni soaks it up quite a bit. The dried onion is key.

Béchamel Sauce

4 tablespoons butter

3 tablespoons flour

4-5 cups whole milk, or half and half

salt and pepper to taste

Melt the butter in a medium sized saucepan over medium high heat. Add the flour all at once and whisk until smooth and bubbly. Add salt and pepper, I use 1 teaspoon of salt and ½ a tsp of pepper. Slowly whisk in the milk until all the lumps are gone. Stir until sauce thickens slightly and boils, be careful not to scorch the bottom. The sauce should be kind of loose. If it’s too thick, add more milk to thin it out. Add a couple of cups of cheese or to taste and stir until blended in.

Buttered Breadcrumb topping

Whir 2 pieces of bread in the food processor or blender

Melt 2 tablespoons butter and pour through the spout onto the crumbs while the processor is running. Spread over the top of the prepared mac and cheese.

ENJOY!