Baked Macaroni Night

So after a mini-concert in our gameroom.....ate a bunch of trick or treat candies while kids are in school...I woke up with a really sore throat....Then I found out that we are having unexpected visitor, my Sister-in-law and nephew. With my body and throat aching, I manage to accomplish quite a bit. Swept, mop, vacuumed and wax the floor, pick-up the mess in the gameroom, clean my daughter's room wash ALL the dishes, clean our room, tidy-up the back porch...That's a great amount of work for someone who is starting to get sick......

Today is the first day I get to be formally introduced to my sister-in-law and actually hang-out with her for a lil bit before she head up north with her son. I let her and hubby catch-up for the most part and today I got to talk to her....

Cute lil nephew loves the karate gear

They found a perfect play area in the house

Fence keep falling down

Big kid joined in

They hardly get together so I decided to make something good for dinner.

Baked Macaroni Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 lb uncooked elbow macaroni

Meat Sauce:

• 3 tbsp butter
• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 small onions, diced, minced garlic
• 1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
• 1 can Spaghetti sauce of your choice
• 1 cup water
• 1 tbsp sugar
• Salt and pepper to taste

Mornay Sauce:

• 3 tbsp butter
• 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
• 2 cups fresh milk/1 can evaporated milk
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 ounce grated parmesan cheese
• 2 ounces grated sharp cheddar cheese

Prepare the elbow macaroni according to instructions in the package and intentionally cut the cooking time so that the macaroni is not well done (the macaroni will be fully cooked once baked) then drain and set aside.

To make spaghetti sauce: Place ground beef in a preheated pan and fry until light brown. Add the garlic and onions. Saute together for a few minutes until fragrant. Pour in spaghetti sauce and little bit of water. Add red bell pepper. Season with salt, sugar, and pepper. Stir until combined. Cover and simmer over low heat for at least 15 -20 minutes. Turn off heat and allow to cool down for a few minutes.

Save 1/4 cup of sauce and spread evenly into the bottom of baking dish.

Add butter in a saucepan.

While melting, add in flour and continuously stirring over low heat until flour is fully dissolved. Pour in fresh milk little by little; continue to whisk until smooth, lumps free and well combined. Turn off heat. Sprinkle in grated cheddar cheese and stir well until sauce is creamy and cheeses melted. Allow to cool down for a few minutes.

Sprinkle in grated cheddar cheese and stir well until sauce is creamy and cheeses melted. Allow to cool down for a few minutes.

Mix and toss cooked macaroni with cooked spaghetti sauce. .

Set aside into the baking dish

Pour white sauce over the top of macaroni noodles and spread evenly. Sprinkle on top with generous amount of mozzarella, cheddar or Parmesan cheese. (The type of cheese is optional, you can use the cheese of your choice).

Place in preheated oven at 350 degrees F and bake for at least 30 minutes or until top is slightly brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool down.

It is not burnt its just the way it looks in pic when i took the shot in the oven.

I didnt get to take a picture of the first one because it was attacked.

My sister-in-law had just left tonight and I hope she had a great time with us. Meanwhile I can curl up in  the blanket now and get over this nasty cold, flu-like feeling.

Repurposed Retractable Dining Table

Are you a Craigslist Junkie? Guilty Here! I just hate seeing furnitures go to dumpster. I want to give them a second chance. If I can just give them all a home I would, but I can't.
We do not have enough storage space even for picking items up and resurfacing them to sell....

We were taking my daughter to school one early morning when I spotted Curb Alert....
Rubbernecking as we drove past the house with furnitures sitting on the curb. I know I have to check it out.
Dining Table.....Hmmm.....
It was an alright dining room table scratched-up and needs some major resurfacing.
But because we do not have room for stuff I really have to think of what I can use it for.
Well, I don't have a make-up vanity/table yet maybe that will solve it.
I used my convincing powers so my husband would pick it up for me.
I noticed it is retractable so that would make it even useful.
Now I can use it for a vanity, an entry table or a buffet table.
You are probably scratching your head at how I will do that to a Dining table.

Here's how I did it......

 I unscrewed and removed the legs. The right frame where the two right legs attaches to, I also removed and unscrewed.

 I moved it just to where the other retractable piece is and centered it. Now I have a new narrower frame that holds the legs still.

 I had hubby help me cut it in half with the table saw.

Someone dont want exposure!!!

 Then we screwed the legs back on.

 We also fitted the leaves so we can utilize it as buffet or entry table.

 Primed it with two coats of Cover stain.

 Lightly sanded it after the primer dried.

 And spackled it. It had some deep scratches on the surface and I wanted to smoothen it a little bit so it will not be very noticeable.

Now it's ready for painting.

 (Still in progress.......but i'll keep you posted!)

Fried Mac and Cheese Bites

I hate wasting food...But my Redneck's are not very good at eating leftover meals.
We had Mac and Cheese leftovers and I had to figure out how to make it appealing to them.
Del Tacos! I suddenly remembered my favorite mac and cheese bites.
The only problem is, it wasnt formed how it should be, to coat it easier with breading.
It should atleast be stored in a flat surface so I can cut it in squares easily.
Or shape it in balls perhaps before storing it in the fridge.
I sliced it in small pieces anyways.
Note: If you plan on making the breaded Mac and cheese bits, add a lil salt when you cook the mac and cheese.

Cut refrigerated(should be overnight) macaroni and cheese into slices or bite size pieces

Flour and Egg

 Season the flour with cayenne, salt,and pepper. Dredge each piece through the flour mixture and gently tap off extra.

I ran out of breading so I had to make some. Toast bread & put them in the food processor and season it the way you want.

Dip in the egg wash and then coat with the bread crumbs. Allow them to rest for 5 minutes so the crust can set.

Very carefully drop into the oil and fry until golden brown.

Drain on paper towels for a few minutes or place on a rack with a cookie sheet underneath.

Serve & Enjoy.

You can try it with any dips too.

SUCCESS!

Everyone loved it!

Thai peanut chicken recipe

Exploring on different cuisine. I am just getting tired of American dish. I also need to find out what else out there my redneck's are willing to eat, so we are not stuck with meat. I am atleast trying to eat healthy.

I love kare-kare. It is a Philippine stew complimented with a thick savory peanut sauce with a variety of vegetables, stewed oxtail, beef, and occasionally offal or tripe. 

The peanut sauce of fresh spring roll is one of my fave too.

However my Redneck's are very picky so only me and my daughter enjoys food adventure most of the time. 

Time to find out the verdict of this new food on the table....


INGREDIENTS:

7 tablespoons soy sauce
4 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
5 teaspoons white wine vinegar or 5 teaspoons rice vinegar
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/2 (cup) honey
3 tablespoons olive oil or 3 tablespoons peanut oil
4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves, cut into thin strips
3 tablespoons minced garlic
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh ginger root
3/4 cup chopped green onion
4 cups broccoli florets

COOKING PROCEDURE:

In a small bowl, stir together the soy sauce, peanut butter, honey, vinegar, and cayenne pepper. Set aside.
 

 Heat oil in a skillet or wok over high heat. Add chicken, garlic and ginger, and cook, stirring constantly, until chicken is golden on the outside, about 5 minutes.

 Reduce heat to medium, and add green onion, broccoli and the peanut butter mixture.

Cook, stirring frequently, for 8 to 10 minutes, or until broccoli is tender, and chicken is cooked through.

 Serve over rice or rice noodles.

Sadly only I appreciated the Thai peanut chicken. It is a little bit too odd for their tastebuds.

Now on a hunt for the next dish to present to my panel of Rednecks!

Weekend special

I am not usually looking forward to weekends because it is just like my regular days.
I am a stay-@-home mommy.
But today is something different. I am invited to a friend's farewell party.
I had just met her and now she is leaving.
They are heading to Texas for a New Adventure!

We are both from Philippines and we sometimes crave for Filipino food.
So I thought of making her something that would fix her craving.

Cassava cake.

Cassava cake.

It is a popular Filipino dessert made from grated cassava also known yucca/yucca root/manioc.

A woody shrub where the starch that is used to make tapioca's are derived.

Ingredients:

For the batter:

-2 packs grated cassava (about 2lbs wt. can be purchased in Filipino stores)
-1 can coconut milk
-½ can evaporated milk
-2 raw eggs
-¼ cup butter melted
-6 tbsp grated cheese
-½ can condensed milk
-14 tbsp sugar

For the topping:

-1 can coconut milk
-2 tbsp brown sugar
- ½ can condensed milk
-2 tbsp flour
-2 tbsp grated cheese (**UPDATE:on  this post I used grated cheese but I found out that sliced cheese works better)
-egg white

Cooking Procedure:

Combine the grated cassava, butter, condensed milk, evaporated milk, cheese, sugar, and eggs in a mixing bowl and mix thoroughly

 Add the coconut milk in the mixing bowl where the mixed ingredients are. Mix again.

 Grease the baking tray then pour-in the batter (ingredients that has just been mixed)

 Pre -heat oven for 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes then put-in the baking tray with batter and bake for 1 hour.Remove from the oven and set aside.

Meanwhile prepare the batter by combining the sugar and flour and put-in the heated saucepan.

Pour-in the condensed milk then mix thoroughly.

Add the cheese while stirring constantly.

Pour the coconut milk and stir constantly for 10 minutes

When it thickens (let it boil a lil) turn the heat off.

Pour the topping over the Cassava Cake (baked batter) and spread evenly.

Separate the yolk from the egg white of the remaining egg (we’ll be needing the egg white)

Glaze the topping with the egg white (you may use a basting brush for this step)

 Broil the Cassava cake until color turns light brown. 

(It will create a big bubble but that is alright check it often it browns quickly)

Its just a matter of seconds! I almost burnt the top!

 Garnish with grated cheese/Cover top with sliced cheese put back in the oven until its a little brown (not burnt) and serve. Share and enjoy!

I was skeptical at first taking the dish to the party. But Im glad its a hit!

What's your weekend plan?