The BEST Mac and Cheese EVER!

My sister made this for us when we had Ellie. LOVED getting meals delivered... Anyways, this is sooooo good.

1 lb elbow mac
2 tbl butter
1/2 pint heavy cream
8 oz mascarpone cheese (room temp)
8 oz sharp cheddar (grated fine)
salt & pepper
buttered breadcrumbs (breadcrumbs toasted lightly in butter)

boil pasta (about 10 minutes) drain and rinse

melt butter w/cream over medium heat

pour butter/cream into a bowl and add both cheeses. Combine with spatula.

Add pasta and season.

Top with buttered breadcrumbs.

transfer to casserole dish.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes.

The breadcrumb topping really puts it over the edge! YUM!

Dreamsicle Jello

My family is crazy big on Jello Salads. This one is a favorite of mine.

large box of orange Jello
4 cups of vanilla ice cream
1 c hot water
small can of crushed pineapple
small can of mandarin oranges (drained)

Add 1 c hot water to Jello to dissolve
Add ice cream until melted
Stir in fruit.

Refrigerate until set.

No Peek Chicken

This is one of my FAVORITE dishes from growing up.

1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of celery soup
1 1/2 c minute rice
1 whole chicken cut up
1 envelope onion soup mix

mix cans of soup with rice and spread on bottom of greased baking pan
lay chicken pieces on top of rice
sprinkle with onion soup mix
cover with foil

Bake at 325 for 2 1/2 hours.

Crockpot Apple Crisp

This was really good. Everyone liked it. It didn't make very much. The four of us polished it off (Ellie only having a little bit).

Whisk together:
3 Tbl. sugar
2 tsp. lemon juice
1 1/2 tsp. cornstarch
1/4 tsp. cinnamon

toss with:
6 large apples (peeled, cored, sliced)

place in greased crockpot

top with:
(combine the following until crumbly)
1/2 c flour
1/4 c brown sugar
1/4 c white sugar
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
pinch of salt
4 Tbl. cold butter
1/2 c nuts (optional)

cook on low for 4 hours or high for 2 hours

Turtle Pretzels

This is THE easiest candy. And oh so yummy!

Pretzel shaped mini pretzels
Rolos
Pecans (or M & Ms or other small candy)

Line baking sheet with foil.
Lay out pretzels.
Top with a rolo.

Place in oven at 250 degrees for 4 minutes.

While still warm, press pecan (or candy) on warm rolo with enough pressure to force the rolo to ooze over the pretzel some.

Place in refrigerator to cool. Remove when set. (About 10 minutes) Store in airtight container.

Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole

The first time I had chicken cordon bleu was in middle school. My best friend's grandma would make it for her birthday every year. I LOVED it. Sadly, I don't have her recipe (hers were rolled up and fastened with toothpicks). But this one is very easy AND very yummy.

6 boneless skinless chicken breasts
6 slices of ham
6 slices of Swiss cheese
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/4 c milk
1/2 c butter, melted
2 c seasoned croutons

in greased casserole dish, layer chicken breast, ham, cheese. In small bowl, mix soup with milk. Pour over chicken. In another bowl, mix melted butter with croutons. Pour croutons over the top of the casserole.

Bake at 325 degrees for 1 1/2 hours.

Pumpkin Buttermilk Pancakes

I got this recipe from my friend Kristen. (This is cut down from hers since our family is smaller than theirs) The pumpkin taste is very subtle. The buttermilk makes them so nice and fluffy.

1 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cups all purpose flour
1/8 cup brown sugar
1 Tablespoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cups buttermilk
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
1/8 cup melted butter
1/2 cup pumpkin
chocolate chips (optional)

In mixing bowl combine dry ingredients (not including chocolate chips). In a seperate bowl, mix wet ingredients together. Heat griddle sprayed with cooking spray. Add wet mixture to dry mixture and mix until it is just blended. Scoop onto hot griddle using 1/4 measuring cup. Add chocolate chips to each pancake if desired. Flip and finish. Serve with butter, syrup, whipped cream, etc. We topped ours with pomegranate seeds.