Cut out the meat

It has been a while since I posted to this blog.  I think it's the juicer's fault.  I started juicing and stopped eating red meet and poultry.  I still eat fish and dairy but I'm thinking about reducing my intake of dairy.  It takes much more thought to come up with food choices and as a result ...blog posts.

I'll give it another shot.

Easy Meatless Burritos

Tortilla's; I use fresh tortilla's and cook them through on a griddle
black beans
brown rice
jalapeno slices
cheese (optional)

Cook the tortilla or warm them so they are nice and bendy, spoon on brown rice, black beans, cheese and jalapeno slices and roll.  If there are left overs roll them up into foil for after school snacks or lunches.  They heat up nicely in the microwave.

Mac n Cheese

I've been told this recipe is incredible.  I plan to make for the family when I return from our trip to the Pacific Northwest.

Recipe of the Month 

icon GRILLíS Fried Macaroni and Cheese 

Macaroni and Cheese Sauce Base:
½ # macaroni
6oz sharp yellow cheddar cheese
4oz gruyere cheese
4oz extra sharp white cheddar cheese
12 1” cubes Velveeta
1 cups chicken broth
½ cup milk
2 T. flour
2 T. butter or margarine
½ t. Worcestershire sauce
1 pinch dry mustard
1 splash Tabasco (optional)
salt and pepper to taste
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup flour
2 cups panko bread crumbs

Cook macaroni, in salted water, drain. Set aside. Melt butter in a 4 qt sauce pot over medium high heat. Add flour and mix until flour is incorporated into butter. Cook, stirring frequently for 2 minutes. Add milk and chicken broth and continue to cook until sauce is thick and bubbly. Season with mustard, Tabasco, Worcestershire, salt and pepper. Remove ¼ cup of this mixture and set aside for making the Molten Cheese sauce (see recipe below). Place macaroni and cheeses into the large sauté pan with the rest of the sauce and continue to heat. Mix constantly until all cheeses are melted and well combined into the sauce. Spray an 8X8 cake pan with anti-stick spray and pour the hot macaroni mixture into the pan. Let cool completely in the refrigerator until firm (ideally overnight). Take a knife and cut the chilled mixture into desired sized squares (2”X2” is good). Take the squares and roll in flour, dip in egg and roll in panko (be sure to use the one hand dry, one hand wet method). Place oil for frying into a deep-sided sauté pan over medium high heat or warm a small fryer to 350 degrees. When the oil is hot, carefully lay the breaded macaroni into the oil. If using a sauté pan, make sure you frequently turn the squares, so not to burn on the bottom. When golden brown, carefully remove to a plate with paper towels to drain. Serve with Molten Cheese sauce for dipping.

Molten Cheese Sauce
8 1” cubes Velveeta
4oz sharp yellow cheddar cheese
¼ cup reserved sauce from above

Take the remaining Sauce Base and warm over a medium burner in a small sauce pan. When warm, add cheese and cook until melted. Season more, if desired

Summer Fashion

What's hot this summer besides the temperature?  Fuller skirts, maxi dresses and wedges!

This is one of the times in fashion that you can where practically anything and it's still in style but I have to say...don't where your pointy toe kitten heals if you have a pair of wedges.  Wedges are blistering hot this season and cooler on the feet.  Another fun shoe is the gladiator sandal.  Many options to choose from in that department as well.  Platform heels are another option.  I buy neutral so I can where them with everything.

A few years ago maxi dresses made an appearance and my thought was...seriously?  How dreadful.  Suddenly this season I think they are the greatest and couldn't wait to purchase.  I bought a plain color and a fun pattern.   The pattern seems a little less formal and received many compliments.  I wore the plain color and received weird looks when walking my dog ...

The other news in fashion silhouettes...Flare pants!  Yes, they are back to the dismay of some but the relief of most who cannot fathom a skinny jean profile.

Storms today made for powerful sky pictures

Neighbors house after the storm

view of my neighbors house from my porch
in between thunderstorms

view of my house from across the street just after one
of the thunderstorms

What no post?

So I just realized I haven't been posting anything.  Sorry folks been too busy drinking juice, eating healthy, doing projects with the kids and working.

Here is a funny picture...

Sean working from home...

My husband has taken to wearing a cowboy hat around the house.  I have yet to see him wear it out in public.