The hit at the Christmas Dinner Table

I have a friend who suddenly took ill right before Christmas, so I volunteered to make her family's dinner. My friend is from the north US and I grew up in the south US. With that said our meal traditions are a bit different. My additions to her family meal were squash casserole and mac-n-cheese. Everyone seems to love my squash casserole which is similar to Paula Deen's recipe with a couple of minor adjustments. As for the mac-n-cheese, well a 13 year old boy told me, "It is the best mac-n-cheese I ever tasted!" Now that was a true compliment because kids are the connoisseurs of Mac-n-cheese.
Christmas dinner for my friend C was as she said, fantastic! The Mac-n-Cheese was the star of the show (LOL), followed by sweet potato casserole and my famous cranberry orange cake. 

Mac-N-Cheese my way! (this recipe makes Mac-n-Cheese for an army)

1 - box of Rotini pasta (any tube or corkscrew pasta will do) - cooked very al dente (negative 2 minutes according to package directions)
1- lb. yellow medium cheddar or Colby, freshly shredded (reserve 1/4 for topping)
1 - lb. white extra sharp cheddar, freshly shredded (reserve 1/4 for the topping)
1 - 8 oz Cream Cheese
1 - 10.5 oz. Goat Cheese
1/4 cup - Parmesan  cheese, freshly shredded
1/2 cup Roux (Butter/Flour mix)
3 - 4 cups low fat milk - warmed
Salt and white pepper to taste
1 tsp. ground mustard seed 

Cook the pasta al dente as directed (neg. 2 minutes from the box directions). Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Drain the pasta throughly and place in a large casserole dish.Warm the roux in a heavy bottomed stainless steel pan. Stir constantly until a soft golden color is achieved. Whisk in warm milk about 1 cup at a time; allow the milk to fully incorporate with the roux. Add cream cheese and goat cheese. Stir until completly blended, then add 3/4 of the cheddar cheeess and all of the parmesan. Add mustard and season with salt and pepper to taste. pour the cheese sauce over the pasta and mix well to cover the pasta with cheese. Sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese over the top of the pasta and cheese sauce. Place the dish into the 350 degree oven for 20 -30 minutes until bubbly and the cheese on top is melted and slightly golden.

Enjoy!



































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































1 tsp ground mustard
1 tsp kosher salt  
1 tsp ground white pepper
1/2 tsp white truffle oil


Prepare the p                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    iiiiiiiiiiiiiiii color is achieved add the warw       

Cranberries Galore!

Cranberries have always been synonymous with Thanksgiving and Christmas meals. Before my exploration into a million ways to use the cranberry we were stuck with the slimy stuff from the can. I don't touch the can goo. Somewhere about 6 or 7 years ago I began making fresh cranberry orange relish. I loved it! The relish has become a staple for our holiday tables. Four years ago I added a cooked and reduced version as a filling for an orange cake. Another hit!

I have had several requests for the cranberry orange cake this year. In preparation I made the filling today and now have ten pints of the delicious filling waiting for cake. I may need a run tomorrow just to insure the right cake recipe. Hmmm, I think yes. A dry run is in order. I will then have pictures to share too!

Discovery

Every day is a discovery with food. My family urges me to write my recipes to share and duplicate, but I have written only two. I have recipes I have collected all over my house. I love cookbooks but with my computer at my side most of the time, my recipe search is with my fingers on the keyboard. My attempt  here is to share my discoveries and make others through meeting like minded people.

My fun right now is the vegetables and seafood in season. Living in Florida I have access to so many fine offerings all year. For the moment, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, zucchini, cranberries, and beets.I've been nuts making breads, pies, cookies, salads, and even canning! Right now my dining table is covered with jars of wonderful bounty to have for the coming months.

My daughter is home from college for winter break. One of her favorite pastimes is fishing...yeah, HER pastime. So, she caught dinner today. Fried fish, with fresh Cole slaw, hush puppies for my mother and coconut rice. 

The fish - Whiting that my daughter cleaned and dressed at the pier (Yay no scales on my back porch). The Cole slaw traditional but if I told you my mothers secret she would shoot me. The Hush Puppies were  Paula Deen's recipe with a couple of changes. She called for self rising flour; I did not have it so I substituted baking mix (Bisquick). I also added white pepper because I like the way it tastes with the onion.

Time to call it a night.

Looking forward to new discoveries!

Carla XO