Saturday, October 30

Not Your Mama's Mac & Cheese

Macaroni and cheese is one of my hands-down all-time favorite comfort foods. My mom used to make Velveeta Shells and Cheese, which I thought was wonderful ... when I was about 11. I've matured a bit since then, or at least my taste buds have, and since I can't eat processed cheesefood anymore anyway, I had to find a way to make my own mac and cheese.

A decade and half a dozen recipe variations later, I have found an amazing cheesy macaroni dish that not only soothes my nostalgic comfort cravings, but tastes absolutely delicious.

Decadent Macaroni and Cheese

4 qt water
1¼ t salt, divided
5 slices bacon, coarsely chopped
½ lb dry macaroni
2 T flour
½ c unsweetened coconut milk
1 c unsweetened soymilk
6 oz goat's milk cheddar, cut into ½-inch cubes
4 scallions, sliced into rings (green parts only)
  1. Bring water and 1 t salt to a boil.
  2. Meanwhile, fry bacon in the bottom of a large sauce pan, stirring frequently, until browned. Drain grease, reserving 2 T.
  3. Cook macaroni in salted water for 6-8 min, or until it reaches desired tenderness. Drain well.
  4. Over medium heat, stir flour and remaining ¼ t salt into reserved bacon grease.
  5. Stirring constantly, pour in coconut milk and soymilk. Bring to a boil.
  6. Add cheese, scallions, and cooked macaroni. Stir together over low heat until cheese has melted and pasta is well coated.
Serves 3-4.

Note: Although I usually I "translate" my recipes into standard, mainstream ingredients, I've left this one as I actually made it. I don't really know what it would taste like with cow's milk ingredients--if I could still eat them, I probably never would have thought to try creating this recipe.

Friday, October 1

I See Dead People

This one is especially for my friends who wear a clerical collar--literally or metaphorically. Happy Clergy Appreciation Month!

We were driving past a cemetery in town recently, and Rosi pointed to it.

"Is that the park for dead people?" She asked.

"Yes," I told her. "It's called a cemetery. Can you say that word?"

"S-s-seminar."

I chuckled at the thought of seminars chock full of parked dead people ... hmmm, maybe that's not so far fetched after all ...

"Not 'seminar,' Sweetie, 'cemetery.'"

"That's what I said," she insisted.

"Oh, well maybe I misheard. Can you pronounce it for me again? Ce-me-te-ry."

"Okay." Deep breath, "Seminary!"