Crunchy Crust Mac and Cheese

I really like the Fat Belly Diet recipes mostly because Diet really doesn't ring true here. It's REAL food and you have to follow portion sizes or the calories ADD up! That being said...I HATE mac n cheese....but this is an exception...it was awesome and the MUFA is Olive Oil. PS France LOVED it and I actually ate the leftovers the next day :).

For the Mac'n'Cheese:
4 oz of multigrain elbow macaroni (I used Quinoa Elbows)
3 Tbs of Panko bread crumbs
4 Tbs of olive oil
2 Tbs of of all-purpose flour
1/2 Tsp paprika
1/2 Tsp salt
1/2 Tsp of pepper
2 cups of fat-free milk
1/2 cup shredded reduced fat cheese

1. Pre-heat oven to 350°F. Coat and 8x8 baking dish with cooking spray.
2.Bring a medium pot of water to boil. Add the macaroni and cook according to package to directions.
3. Combine the bread crumbs and 2 tsps of the oil and stir with a fork evenly to coat.
4. Add the remaining 3 tbs + 1 tsp oil to a large saucepan. Set over medium-high heat. Whisk in flour, paprika, salt and pepper until smooth. Gradually add milk, stirring constantly. Cook, whisking for 5 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat. Stir in the cheese until it melts. Stir in the macaroni. Pour in the baking dish. Top evenly with the crumb mixture.
5. Bake for 15 minutes or until bubbly and golden. Allow to sit for 10 minutes before serving.

Yum!

It's BEEN Awhile!

So since my last post we have moved from VA to CA. Played in Utah for about 3 weeks. Hung out in Spokane while France was at COT for 5 LOooooong Weeks and
then settled in to our new life here in CA.

SOoo. The reason I have this blog is when I am away from home I can find the recipes I like quickly (with my own notes...). It's also to keep track of brands and other randomness. It's open to whoever. So enjoy :).

Here are some random things about well...me.
Feel free to not read...I just felt like posting! :)

France and I have decided that if you take about 30 more seconds when preparing salad to chop the spinach (0r other greens) before you eat,
then it's MUCH EASIER to eat, and a LOT less messy. :)

Ok so I have had random people ask me what vitamins I take. I know it may seem like a lot, but considering modern diets, we are missing out on some essentials.

1. A Multivitamin. (Not pictured, I take different ones almost every time the jar runs out).
2. Probiotics. This specific brand (PB8) is Dr. approved and provides 14billion per dose.
3. Vitamin D3. I take this EVERY DAY. We don't get the sun we need. I have read that we need about 15 min of sunscreen-less sun EVERY DAY. But, most people don't get enough and that my friends is one reason why we all can get especially sick in the winter. I will give anyone who wants a testimonial of how well this works for fighting off colds and infections. No joke. One a day people. PS it helps you absorb wayyy more calcium if you take it with a calcium supplement or gulp it down with milk, no kidding!

4. Omega 3. Ok so I HATE fish. And no one can really afford to eat salmon etc. 3 days a week. This stuff tastes like Lemon Starbursts! You can get it at Costco for about $19. PLease look up the benefits of Omega 3, it's too much to list here.

*I would make sure that whatever multivitamin you take has B6 and B12 as well as folic acid. The B's really are the Bee's knees! Hehe.

And there you are. :)

Ok. SO Stevia is approved as a natural sweetener that doesn't have the same horrible affects as aspartame and it's many twins. Yes, put that Diet SOda down. It's giving you osteoporosis, stains on your teeth and too many other things to list. Okay, off my soap box (I know that Diet Dr. P's are good ok? I have them once in a while at Bajio.) :)

At last! Coconut milk! I am lactose intolerant, and so are all of YOU to a point (I am totally serious, look it up). I do drink Lactaid, which I highly recommended for cereal, but for everything else, this stuff is pure heaven and sooo good for you.