Comfort Foods

First I'll start with my most recent favorite - macaroni and cheese. I've actually been making this recipe for a while but the other day it struck me just how much I love sitting down and eating a huge bowl of this. I know a lot of people have their own favorite recipe for mac and cheese, but if you don't already have one, you should give this a try. It's really pretty basic and easy.

Creamy Macaroni and Cheese

Ingredients

1 pound pasta (use whatever you want, I prefer shell or elbow)

1 1/2 cups milk

1 cup chicken broth

3 tablespoons butter

1/3 cup flour

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 pound grated cheddar cheese (I prefer sharp)

Directions

Cook pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, microwave milk and chicken broth until hot but not quite boiling. Melt butter in sauce pot; whisk in flour until combined, then add hot milk mixture. Continue to stir until the mixture becomes thick and bubbly. Then add Parmesan cheese. Remove from heat and stir in Cheddar cheese until melted. Add drained pasta. Enjoy!

I've also added bacon bits to it before, you can add whatever flavors or cheeses you want. I usually make a half a batch for my small family.

This next recipe is something I saw on the Food Network. It uses an immersion blender and since I got one for Christmas, I decided to try out the recipe.

Isn't it so pretty? The recipe is for a roast; you add carrots, onions, and fennel (I used celery since that's what I already had), and cook it all up in the crock pot. When the meat is done you set it aside and then you blend up everything else. It makes this thick delicious sauce to pour over the meat. It is AMAZING! Look how happy I am with my blender.

Doesn't it look so thick and yummy?

I made some potatoes and carrots to eat on the side as well, but this is a great way to sneak veggies in for picky eaters - assuming the picky eater will eat meat. Just blend it all up and they will have no idea.

So good! You can find the recipe here.