Three Cheese Macaroni and Bacon

I've been wanting to make homemade macaroni and cheese for a long time, but could never find a recipe my family liked.  Even my husband, who loves cheese, found that many recipes were too rich, and made it difficult for us to eat.  I came up with this creamy version with 3 different cheeses, Cheddar Cheese, Mozzarella Cheese and Cream Cheese.  The mozzarella and cream cheese lighten the cheddar up some to make this delicious dish.  The addition of bacon bits gives it a great twist.  Now if only my kids would eat macaroni and cheese that didn't come out of a blue box.

This recipe is a stove top one.  If you preferred it baked, it will be at the end.  I don't like to bake mine, I find mine always comes out kind of dry if it is baked and I like mine creamy.

Three Cheese Macaroni and Bacon

1 lb Elbow Macaroni

1/2 Cup Butter

3 Tbsp Flour

1 3/4 Cup Milk

1/4 Cup Heavy Cream

4 oz Cream Cheese

1 tsp Salt

1/2 tsp Pepper

1/2 tsp Garlic Powder

1/4 tsp Onion Powder

2 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese

1 Cup Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

2.5 oz Bag of Bacon Bits

For Baked:

1 Cup Panko Bread Crumbs

2 Tbsp Butter, Melted

In a large pot boil water and cook macaroni as directed on box.  Meanwhile, in a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter and stir in flour.  Cook for about 1 minute, until smooth and bubbly; stirring occasionally.  Mix in milk, heavy cream, cream cheese, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.  Continue cooking until cream cheese is melted and mixture thickens. Add in remaining cheese.  Stirring until melted.  Mix in bacon bits.  

Drain macaroni and return to pot.  Pour sauce over macaroni and mix until noodles are well coated.  Serve and Enjoy!

To Bake, Pour pasta into a 2 qt casserole dish.  In a small bowl combine bread crumbs and melted butter.  Pour over the top of macaroni and spread.  Bake for 15-20 minutes at 400 degrees F until golden brown and heated through.

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Chicken and Bacon Alfredo

Last night school was cancelled for today as everyone prepped from the massive storm to hit most of the U.S.  Stretching 2,000 miles, reaching from Texas and moving to Maine, 60 mph winds, snow drifts as high as cars....I'm ready for spring.  I'd be happy with only seeing snow at Christmas time and thats it.  Tis the life of living in Wisconsin.  On another note Packers are playing the Super Bowl this weekend, Go Packers!

I made this Alfredo last night. When I first started making this, I was little scared.  See when I first made Alfredo I had used a Jar sauce from Newman's Own.  It smelled horrid.  The smell made me sick.  Perhaps it was a bad batch, I don't know but made me afraid to try making it from scratch in fear I would get the same result.  I quickly overcame my fear making a delicious meal with none other than one of my favorite cooking ingredients...BACON!  Bacon makes the world go round.

Chicken and Bacon Alfredo 

1 lb Penne Pasta

4 Tbsp Butter

3-4 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts, diced

1/2 Lb Bacon Diced and Fried

Poultry Seasoning

1 Tbsp Dried Minced Onion

2 Tbsp Minced Garlic

2 Cups Heavy Cream

4 oz Cream Cheese

1/4 Cup Shredded Parmesan Cheese

1/2 tsp Salt

1/2 tsp Pepper

Cook Penne according to box. Fry up your bacon and cook until done.  Remove to paper towel lined plate. Meanwhile season your chicken and cook until done.  Remove to paper towel lined plate and start on your sauce.  In a saucepan, melt your butter.  Add onion and garlic and cook for 1 minute.  Add cream, cream cheese, parmesan cheese, salt and pepper.  Cook until cream cheese is melted.  Add bacon and chicken and cook for 2-3 more minutes.  Drain pasta, add to sauce and mix up.  Serve!

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On a final note I leave you with a music video of one of my favorite songs, while I yearn for summer to be here.

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My first post and Ilene's Goulash

Hi there, and welcome to my first post.  I have always loved to cook and try new things.  I enjoy cooking for others and sharing my goodies with everyone. Sharing is Caring!  When I first started cooking for my family this is one of the first recipes that I made, receiving it from my dear mother-in-law Ilene.

What is Goulash? 

Goulash is a soup or stew that originated in Hungary, made up of beef and vegetables.  In America the addition of pasta has been very common.

Goulash is my hubby's absolute favorite meal and something him and my brother -in-law (who visits frequently) grew up on.  So it was only right that I learned how to make it. This recipe is EXTREMELY easy and one of the few meals my little picky monsters will eat.

1 lb Ground Beef

46 oz Tomato Juice

1/4 tsp - 1/2 tsp Seasoning Salt

1/2 tsp Onion Powder

1/2 tsp Salt

1/2 tsp Pepper

16 oz box of Elbow Macaroni

In a large pot cook elbow macaroni and directed on box.  Meanwhile in a dutch oven or another large pot cook your ground beef until browned.  While the beef is cooking, season with onion powder and seasoning salt, to your taste.  After the meat is done, drain fat.  Add the tomato juice to meat and season with some salt and pepper.  Stir and simmer until pasta is done.  Drain macaroni and add to the meat and tomato juice.  Serve with garlic bread and enjoy!


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A Southern Fairytale