Tag: dinner

3-Cheese Macaroni & Cheese

This recipe is a family favorite at our house! I have posted a macaroni & cheese recipe here before but wasn’t completely satisfied with it. It’s good but was just missing something.

I think I found it here! More cheese of course!!! The 3 cheeses add different layers of flavor and combine to make a to-die-for creamy, cheese sauce.

This could easily be a weeknight meal, especially if you’ve already shredded your cheese ahead of time.

3-Cheese Macaroni & Cheese

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound elbow macaroni or shells cooked according to package
  • 1 stick butter
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 4 cups milk
  • 1 tsp salt or to taste
  • 1/2 tsp pepper or to taste
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp ground mustard
  • 12 ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese shredded (recommend shredding yourself!)
  • 1 cup Parmesan cheese finely grated
  • 4 ounces cream cheese

Instructions
 

  • Cook pasta according to package, drain and set aside.
  • To the same pot, add the butter over medium heat to melt.
  • Add the flour and whisk constantly until the mixture turns light brown and has bubble for about 2 minutes. Cook long enough to cook off the raw flour taste but no so long it gets overly browned.
  • Slowly add the milk, whisking constantly, making sure to smooth out any possible clumps that formed.
  • Add the salt, pepper, garlic powder, optional dry mustard and whisk to incorporate.
  • Add the cheddar, Parmesan & cream cheeses and stir until melted and smooth.
  • Add the pasta and stir evenly to coat.
  • Serve immediately. If desired, can be kept in fridge for up to 5 days or freezer for 4 months.

I hope you enjoy!!

Easy Chili Recipe

I love this chili recipe. It’s thrown together quick enough that I can easily make it on busy weeknight but it also has elements that can be prepared ahead to make it even quicker. It also freezes well!!

Easy Chili Recipe

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb ground beef or ground turkey
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 1 14.5 oz can red kidney beans undrained
  • 1 14.5 oz can black beans undrained
  • 1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes undrained
  • 1 8 oz can tomato sauce
  • 2 Tbsp chili powder
  • 2 tsp ground cumin
  • 1.5 tsp garlic salt
  • 0.5 tsp oregano
  • shredded cheese if desired
  • sour cream if desired
  • green onions if desired

Instructions
 

  • Brown ground beef (or turkey) and onion in large skillet on medium-high heat for 5 minutes; drain.
  • Add remaining ingredients. Bring to boil. Cover and simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Top with shredded cheese, sour cream or green onion, if desired.

Notes

To kick up the heat, use tomatoes with green chiles, or "chili ready" diced tomatoes.

Dinner Time Assist

As I strive to eat healthier as well as more frugally, I’ve become interested in ways to make more things from scratch. I invested in a breadmaker that Brooke and I love to use, I make batches of beans in the slow cooker instead of using canned…

But sometimes when I get home from work and things are crazy, I need the convenience of the reliable mix from a box.

So I was excited when I was sent Betty Crocker Loaded Mashed Potatoes by Betty Croker through MyBlogSpark. I’d tried the Sweet Potato variety recently and couldn’t wait to try the Loaded Mashed Potatoes.

We had them last night with our baked Italian chicken and they were really good.  You could taste the bits of bacon, chives and cheese.  They smelled awesome too.  Keith noticed it right away when he walked in and knew there was something good waiting on the table!!

Some info about Betty Crocker Loaded Mashed Potatoes:

With a taste that is just like homemade, new Betty Crocker “Loaded Mashed” potatoes are made with 100% real russet potatoes, and a blend of real seasonings and natural flavors like bacon, cheese, chives, and sour cream.

Add Betty Crocker flavored mashed potatoes to your favorite recipe for an ideal addition to any dinner-time dish. With nine tasty varieties to choose from, like Four Cheese and Sweet Potato, and a great value price, Betty Crocker flavored mashed potatoes are the perfect go-to side dish for your favorite meals.

Betty Crocker & MyBlogSpark are giving you a chance to try the new Loaded Mashed Potatoes with this prize pack:
Prize Pack

To Enter:

  • Mandatory entry – Leave a comment telling me your favorite dish to serve with mashed potatoes.
  • For an extra entry – Like the Tired Mommy Tales Facebook page and leave me a comment telling me that you’re a FB Fan!

Giveaway will be open until Sunday, May 15th at midnight.  Winner will be announced Monday morning.

Until then, go to http://bit.ly/bcloadedcoupon for $0.55 off one box of new Betty Crocker “Loaded Mashed” potatoes.