Homemade Mac and Cheese

I am always changing and adding to this recipe but here is the basic recipe that I use...Most of the time ;)

Ingredients:
- 1 box Elbow Noodles
- 2 cups Milk
- 1/4 cup stick butter (1/2 stick)
- 1 chopped onion
- 1 tsp. garlic powder or freshly minced garlic
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- 1/4 Cup Flour 
- 1/4 cup Velvetta Cheese (cubed)
- 1/2 cup Mild Cheddar (shredded)
- 1/2 cup Colby-Jack (shredded)
- 1/4 cup Swiss (shredded)
- Panko Bread crumbs

Directions:
- Cook elbow noodles according to the directions, set aside
- Melt butter, saute onions and garlic in saucepan.
- Add milk and bring to a boil.
- Whisk in flour slowly into the milk mixture. Whisking will create a nice rue (think milk base) to add your cheese.
- Once a creamy, thick consistency add cheeses. Slowly mix them into milk mixture and allow the cheese to melt.
- In a bowl mix noodles and sauce together.
- Transfer to a baking dish of your choosing and top with bread crumbs and extra cheese
- Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Enjoy!

Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken

This turned out so yummy! If you are craving Chinese food but want to stay in, this is definitely a great recipe!

Here is the link to the recipe I used:

Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken

Spring Chocolate Chip Cookies

I had fun with my cookie recipe and cut shapes with cookie cutters after the cookie dough was baked. I followed the same cookie recipe that I always use for regular cookies. But instead of balling the dough, I flatted it into 2 rectangle 1 inch think sections on a cookie tray. I then baked it for about 20-25 minutes (until golden brown) and then cut out the shapes after it was baked.

Here is the cookie recipe I use. I LOVE it! I got it from a friend from church and will always use this one from here on out. The cookies stay a nice shape and do not flatten as they bake.

Ingredients:
- 2 sticks of butter
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tbsp. vanilla
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 2 3/4 cups flour
- 1 package of chocolate chips (for this recipe I used the spring time variety from Toll House)

Directions
- Soften butter and mix with sugar, until smooth
- Add eggs and vanilla and mix well
- Combine dry ingredients together and mix into wet sugar mixture
- Fold in chocolate chips into the dough
- Bake at 375 for 8 minutes (for regular cookies)
- Bake at 375 for 20-25 minutes cookie sheets to make shapes

Once mostly cooled, use a cookie cutter and cut out your desired shapes.

Sweet Pork Tacos with Cilantro Lime Rice

This is one of my favorite recipes! Here is the link to the recipe that I used:

Sweet Pork Taco Recipe

Salmon Stir Fry

Salmon Stir Fry

Ingredients:

- 2-3 Salmon Fillets 

- 1 tablespoon garlic

- 1/4 cup Orange Juice

- 1/4 cup Soy Sauce

- 2 tablespoons sesame oil 

- 1 tsp. ground ginger 

- Sliced Green Onions

Directions: 

- Cut salmon into cube size pieces 

- Mix remaining ingredients (besides the green onions) together and add salmon to marinade 

- Marinade salmon for 30 minutes in refrigerator

-  Cook Salmon in Wok on high heat - turn salmon carefully with tongs to cook evenly - this is the tricky part, because you don't want to get crazy with your flipping and have the salmon fall apart. - Cook until cooked through (about 3-5 minutes on each side)

- Add sliced green onions once your salmon is cooked

Serve and enjoy! 

- I made green beans and white rice to go with it.

Dad's Venison Backstraps

This recipe is by far my favorite venison recipe! If you don't have venison, you could use beef instead. We love to have it with onion potatoes and a vegetable. Hope you enjoy it! Here is the recipe...

Ingredients:
- 2 lbs. Venison Backstrap Meat (cubed)
- 2 cups Brandy
- 1/3 cup Butter
- 1 Pint Heavy Whipping Cream
- Salt and Pepper (To Taste)

Directions:
- Brown meat with butter in an electric skillet 
- Once meat is browned (not fully cooked through) - remove and set aside
- Add brandy to butter and meat drippings
- Heat and light brandy mixture - to burn alcohol off: SAFETY TIP - make sure you have plenty of height space for the flame to go - probably at least 2 feet. - sometimes we have done this step outside.
- Once your flame has died down, add heavy whipping cream.
- Bring to a boil and then return the meat to the pan.
- Add Salt and Pepper to taste
- Continue to cook (simmer) until meat has cooked through (about 20-30 minutes, check as it is cooking, you don't want the meat to get tough)
- Sauce will thicken as is simmers.
- ENJOY! :)

Serve with Onion Potatoes and a Veggie - we did Green Bean Casserole 


Here is the process:

- Brown meat with butter in an electric skillet 

- Once meat is browned (not fully cooked through) - remove and set aside

- Add brandy to butter and meat drippings

- Heat and light brandy mixture (Heat low) - to burn alcohol off: SAFETY TIP - make sure you have plenty of height space for the flame to go - probably at least 2 feet. - sometimes we have done this step outside.

- Once your flame has died down, add heavy whipping cream.

- Bring to a boil and then return the meat to the pan.

- Add Salt and Pepper to taste

- Cover and Continue to cook (simmer) until meat has cooked through (about 20-30 minutes, check as it is cooking, you don't want the meat to get tough)

- Sauce will thicken as is simmers.

ENJOY!

Grandma's Shrimp Dip

Seriously the best appetizer you will ever make for your next party! This is a family favorite that we have every year around the holidays. I hope you and your family enjoy the recipe as much as we do!

Ingredients:

·         8 oz. Cream Cheese

·         ¼ cup Mayonnaise
·         ½ tsp. Seasoned salt
·         1 ½ tbsp. Minced Onion
·         Dash of Garlic Powder
·         6 oz. Small frozen shrimp (drained)
·         Cocktail Sauce

Directions:

·         Mix first 5 ingredients together and spread on serving plate and refrigerate until ready to serve.

·         Spread cocktail sauce over cream cheese mixture; add shrimp over the top right before serving.
·         Serve with crackers