I'm in CA and I love homemade mac & cheese -
Posted By: dont forget to swing by to get me, too! - irishro on 2008-10-03
In Reply to: Poor MT..I live in Michigan, pick me up will you? I'll even bring my own plate and fork. LOL. nm - MT and worn out
.
Complete Discussion Below:  marks the location of current message within thread
The messages you are viewing
are archived/old.
To view latest messages and participate in discussions, select
the boards given in left menu
Other related messages found in our database
My grandmother made homemade mac and cheese sm
She died at the age of 93 and I was 27 and I am ashamed to say that I never learned how to make it. She didn't have a receipe. She would also put fried chicken on the stove before church and it would be cooked to perfection by dinnertime. Ask my brother or me what our last meal would be and we both say Mamaw's fried chicken and mac and cheese.
We usually have just cheese or cheese spread & crackers out (nm)
x
Definitely the homemade goodies!
Homemade chocolate chip cookies, pecan and/or almond butter balls, sugar cookies, fudge! mmmmm
My mother fed us homemade
formula made from Karo syrup and canned milk. I'm only 36. She also made the nipple holes bigger to get serial in those bottles once we started waking her up too often. Plus, let my husband get up once in a while, darn...., and no I'm not milking myself like a cow so he can feed the baby through a bottle. Another thing, these mothers wind up feeding these babies from their breast until they start school. Ooohhhh ahhhh... duh! Oh the stories!
Homemade Bread
I'd like to start making my own bread. I can only tolerate easy recipes and not too time consuming. Is making your own bread easy, moderate or difficult? if it's easy, do you have any tried and true recipes?
Should I buy a bread machine? What can you tell me about bread machines and their ability to pop out good tasting bread, also, with bread machines, do you have to use a pre bought packet or can you stick your own ingredients in there and bake?
Homemade bread
Well, I'm old-fashioned. I've never used a bread machine in my life. But I do make four loaves of bread at least every week and my family can't live without it (I say in all modesty). I've won blue ribbons at the County Fair for it. This is how I do it - This may seem very long and involved, but it's because I'm trying to describe it really thoroughly. Don't let the length of the instructions put you off. Do try it!
The initial makinag and kneading of the dough only takes about twenty minutes - the rest is waiting time, mostly.
I start with dry yeast, one package in a half a cup of hot tap water, stir it up and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. While it's sitting, I put three cups of hot water in a big mixing bowl with two teaspoons of salt, two tablespoons of sugar, and a quarter stick of margarine (or butter if you prefer). I heat that in the microwave for three minutes.
Then I add two cups of flour to the ater/salt/sugar/ butter and stir it up. You'll need a strong spoon because it'll get pretty thick later on. I have a favorite wooden spoon that I use. Once that's mixed in (it doesn't have to be completely smooth) add the yeast, then add another half cup of hot water to rinse the rest of the yeast out of the cup and into the dough. Stir that up, and then start adding your flour. I start with a total of ten cups, usually get close to twelve. You can do that all at once or two cups at a time. After it gets too hard to stir, it's time to put some of the last two cups of flour on the table and dump the dough mixture out onto the table. Then comes the fun, especially if you're stressed. Start kneading the dough, adding more flour when it gets sticky. Depending on how humid it is, you may need another cup or two cups. I usually add about half a cup at a time gradually each time it gets sticky. If you put in too much all at once, it may turn out too heavy. At eleven or twelve cups, you will hit the point when your hands don't stick to the dough anymore. Then just knead it for another several minutes until it's smooth "as a baby's bottom" was how I was taught.
Then I wash out the bowl and dry it with a clean dish towel, spray the inside with cooking spray, put the dough in, then thoroughly wet the towel (not dripping, but don't wring it out all the way either), and cover the bowel. That'll keep the dough from drying out while it's rising. Set in in a warm place to rise. In the summer I set it on my stove with the light on over it. In the winter, I'll put a pan of warm water in the oven on the bottom shelf and put the bowl on the top shelf.
Let it rise to double its original size, about an hour. Can be more. Dough is very forgiving if you let it rise too much. Then fold it in on itself, recover it and let it rise again. I usually let it rise at least two or three times. The more often you let it rise, the lighter it will be.
After the last rising, I spray my four loaf pans with cooking spray, then take the dough out, put in on the table and divide it into four parts with a large knife. Then, fold it in and under to form a loaf and put it in the loaf pan. Set that to rise to double. At about 45 minutes, start preheating the oven to 375 degrees. When the dough is the height you want (it will rise a little more in the oven), stick it in the oven for 30 minutes. It should be golden brown on top when it's done. Take the loaves out of the pans immediately and put them on a cooling rack so moisture doesn't accumulate under them.
The family will attack the first loaf of bread immediately, be forewarned! The other three, when they are almost cool, put them in regular bread bags you have saved from store-bought bread. I freeze mine, because this has no preservatives and does get stale quickly. It's best eaten within a day or two of making it or thawing it. That's never a problem in my house.
I hope you try it. It's a great feeling, getting all the accolades from your family and friends. PS - if you're lactose intolerant, like me, there are no milk products in it. I never eat store-bought bread anymore. It also makes the best toast in the world, and French toast?!? Wonderful!
homemade bread
She's absoloutely correct! I love making my own bread. My kids are gone now, so I don't make as much, but give it away. It doesn't last long if it sticks around here and there is such a good feeling when you've done it yourself. No preservatives and junk included. That being said, I do have a bread machine as well, have rarely used it, but when I do, it does a gresat job and I can make more types of bread because I can just throw everything in and let the machine do the rest. It really does turn out good and I am freed up to do other stuff, like work!!
homemade bread
Thanks for sharing your recipe. I lost my bread book in a flood here in Florida when there was 8 inches of water in my house and my recipes were on the bottom shelf of my cabinet (among other recipes) and have not made any bread since. My mother bought me an "earthenware bowl" that she paid a lot for to rise the dough which retains the temperature. I only have 3 loaf pans but will buy another. I bought a breadmaker machine but did not use it much. I used it for rye bread which is hard to knead because it is more coarse. My family loved my bread and I pretty much loved to have my hands in that dough. I know it is somewhat exhausting, but I find it almost therapeutic and stress reducing. I am going to try your recipe.
Homemade gravy, almost every time.
x
What's the best cut of meat for homemade philly...
steak subs? Our family loves them and we usually buy the frozen philly cheese steak meat...but I just can't stomach the smell of it even cooking anymore because it is sooooo greasy. I want to try to make some homemade from a fresh cut of meat. Any suggestions? Thanks!!
homemade chicken soup here
Teenage son just walked in and said, Oh, good. We get to eat tonight. LOL. Guess he is tired of take-out.
Homemade Pizza Dough
Does anybody have a recipe for a good pizza dough recipe that does not take a long time to make?
Also what do you put on your homemade pizza?
homemade heath bar- sorta
Not a dinner idea- but a cheap way to make a bag-full of toffee:
1 cup butter, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 12 oz. bag chocolate chips, 3/4-1 cup chopped nuts (i use salted peanuts chopped up) saltine crackers:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil. Fill pan side-by-side with crackers. Heat butter and brown sugar. Boil for 3 minutes. Pour on top of crackers. Put pan in oven for 5 minutes. Remove from oven, sprinkle the chocolate chips on top to melt- after a couple minutes, easy to spread around with a spatula. Sprinkle the nuts on top- kinda push them into the chocloate so they don't fall off when done. Chill in fridge and break into pieces.
Keeps well in a zip-lock baggie in fridge. Not the real deal, but sure it good and a lot cheaper than candy bars!
Thanks for the other ideas ladies, always looking for a new meal that is fast, easy and yummy!
last year homemade carmel corn,
this year pumpkin mini-muffins with candy corn on top...
Popcorn, homemade, with butter and a little salt
nm
I've heard they are good for homemade..
pizza because pizza has to cook in a 500+ oven. The stone helps when domestic ovens only go that high.
I'm no cook, that's the 'gist' of it, stones.
You can Google the info tho.
Ever watch Sam the Cooking Guy? He cracks me up.
I found a recipe for homemade latte that I will try.
You liked Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper? I thought it tasted like dirt. But I feel your pain, also, on losing something you love. Most people didn't like Straight Up latte, too, but I loved it.
Thanks for checking. I did try making my homemade version.
Not too bad. Needs a little recipe tweaking, but not too bad. I just made sure not to buy Folger's instant coffee for the recipe 
Super easy homemade pizza
Very yummy and under $10 Serves 3-4
1 lb ground hamburger or 1 bag of pepperoni
1 box jiffy pizza crust mix
1 bag shredded pizza cheese
1 jar pizza sauce
Brown hamburger, drain; set aside. Make crust mix as per directions. Put into pizza pan - bake 3 minutes. Layer sauce, a little cheese, meat, then more cheese. Bake on 350 degrees for about 12-15 minutes. You won't believe how delicious this is!
Halfway homemade NE clam chowder sm
I say half-way because I use cream of potato soup as kind of a base. This is enough for my family of 5 to have plenty with a little leftover if there is nothing else to go with it (we sometimes have grilled cheese with it).
6-8 slices of bacon
1/2-1 stick of butter
1/2 medium-large onion, chopped
1-2 Tbsp minced garlic
4 cans Campbell's cream of potato soup
3 cans minced or chopped clams (keep the juice)
Half and half, maybe a quart
Cook the bacon, butter, onion, and garlic in a large pot until the bacon is done. Do not drain. Add soup and clams, including the juice, and gradually stir in half and half, stirring constantly to keep it from curdling or burning, until heated through.
Great idea! How about homemade marshmellows!?
I do cookies and candies every year for all of our neighbors, friends, and family. This year we have to cut back for financial reasons so I am only giving to those who we see often and I know appreciate it.
Last year we did homemade marshmellows and they were a big hit. There were green striped mint ones and red striped cherry. This year I am going to do cocoa mix and the marshmellows and just a few cookies. I may just use your recipe. Sounds wonderful!
Andes mints now have a big of pieces in the baking aisle. That might be a nice twist or maybe butterscotch chips. Yum!
If you like to bake you should check out the marshmellow recipe of Alton Brown's. Martha Stewart also has a good one. They are cheap and easy to make if you have a good mixer like a kitchen aid. The mixer really does most of the work, about 15 minutes to get the fluff. The most difficult part is the cleanup. It can be messy but well worth it!
How many of you are making the homemade laundry soap?
I just did this week and I love it. Its going to save so much on laundry detergent. I'm very happy with the results.
HOMEMADE LAUNDRY DETERGENT
Ingredients:
3.1 oz bar Ivory soap or 2 regular bar sizes(Ivory is chosen because it's all natural. You may use a soap of your choice)
1 cup 20 Mule Team Borax
½ cup Arm & Hammer Washing Soda or Baking Soda (I used baking soda since I couldn't find the washing soda)
Water
Tools:
5 Gallon container
Knife
Pot large enough to hold 5 cups of water
Long stirring stick/spoon (for 5 gallon container)
Instructions:
Shave the soap into small strips or grate it up finely with a grater and place in the pot with 5 cups of water. Bring the water just shy of a boil and stir until the soap is completely melted. When the soap is just about melted, pour 3 gallons of hot water into the 5-gallon container and let it sit until the soap in the pot is totally melted. Once all of the soap shavings are melted, pour the mixture into the 5-gallon container and stir.
Once the soap and water are thoroughly stirred, add the ½ cup pf washing soda and stir until dissolved. Once the washing soda is dissolved, pour in the cup of borax and stir again until dissolved.
***You can add essential oil flavors for the smell but I prefer without.
Breakfast - homemade biscuits, gravy, scrambled eggs,
bacon, fried bologna and potato pancakes. It was scrumptious!!!!
Frito pie made with homemade chili and cole slaw.
x
A blanket in his favorite color, a homemade afghan or quilt maybe? NM
x
I LOVE love love shallots! I use them in everything that calls for an onion and/or garlic. Mmmmmm. n
x
Homemade lollipops? Blonde & chocolate brownies? Rice Krispie treats? Critter cupcakes? nm
s
Fried chicken drummettes, mashed potatoes wiht homemade gravy, corn on cob and rolls
x
mac 'n cheese
Here's the one I use...it's yummy...enjoy!
1 box, about 8 ounces or so, of elbow mac noodles
shredded cheese (I use the 4 cheese blend usually) about 2 cups...
1 small can evaporated milk
1 can cheddar cheese soup
1 egg
salt & pepper
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook noodles until mostly done, but not all the way;drain. Mix in a large bowl the cheddar cheese soup, evaporated milk, and egg. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add the noodles in with the soup mixture (I usually cool my noodles a bit before adding by running under cool water for a minute or 2). Don't add too many noodles or the mac 'n cheese will be dry.
Spray a round, deep casserole dish with nonstick spray. Add a layer of noodle mix, top with cheese; repeat with another layer of noodle mix and top with remaining cheese. Don't skimp on the cheese either! Add about a cup to each layer, depending on how much you like cheese (we love it)! Bake for about 30 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the casserole is bubbly.
It's seriously delicious. It's the only recipe my whole family uses for mac 'n cheese!
mac/cheese
Try adding some dry mustard. It was in one recipe I had and it really helped.
Cheese
any and all kinds
Mac&Cheese
LOL, I made homemade mac and cheese a couple times and the kids didn't like it! But they love the Kraft. My 12 yo niece recently told us that when she was little she though Grandma made the best mac and cheese in the world. Yep, it was Kraft in the box. I wouldn't sweat it. In our family we just always make mac and cheese for the little kids and they're happy.
mac & cheese
Cook 1 lb macaroni according to directions on box and put in crock pot.
Add one stick margarine.
Add 1/2 lb white American cheese.
Add 1/2 lb Cooper Sharp cheese.
Add 1 quart milk.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
Warm in crock pot at least 4 hours (2 on high and then 2 on low).
Unfortunately . . . Mac and Cheese out of a box :)
I can't cook. I had never even cooked before (except warmed up left overs in the microwave). I cooked mac and cheese out of the box, but left the burner on (high) after getting rid of the water and half the noodles stuck to the bottom of the pan. It was a disaster. Needless to say . . . my husband cooks most the time now (though I have learned how to cook in the meantime).
mac n cheese
The best frozen mac and cheese is from Trader Joe's. It's absolutely decadent! Don't be fooled by the fact that it's frozen. Yum.
tell her to get mac&cheese or another side--sm
she doesn't HAVE to eat mashed potatoes. Pizza gets tiring all the time. She may be nice, but she doesn't sound very flexible. Enjoy whatever you decide on. have fun!
...instead as I had no cheese, though. Pumpkin it is! :) nm
s
Macaroni and cheese sm
I enjoy a really good mac and cheese but have to give it up due to high cholesterol, etc. Once in awhile I cheat and have plain mac with butter, salt and pepper (don't tell my cardiologist). There is a restaurant chain in the NE area called Hard Rock Cafe. I don't know what they put in it, it's very rich, but sooo good. I use Annie's for my grandkids and they love it. I prefer the good old rich cheesy kind with a nice browned breadcrust topping. Oh gosh, I feel pregnant with craving right now! Too old for that!
or may be mac and cheese. I make my own
using elbow macaroni, velveeta cheese, stewed tomatoes and bread crumbs on top with a dot of butter.
Cook the mac first, melt the cheese in macaroni, add tomatoes, put bread crumbs on top and then bake.
Usually have biscuits or rolls with that and a salad.
My SIL swears by mac & cheese
YUCK -- but my kids like noodles -- the egg noodles in turkey broth. They also like the turkey drumsticks and the wishbone. They love Stove Top stuffing, but not homemade stuffing. They don't eat much of the mashed potatos or gravy. They love deviled eggs. Are my kids weird?
One year, I thought I'd make candied sweet potatoes for the kids, thinking they'd like ooey-gooey, make-my-teeth-hurt sweet, but turns out I was wrong. They didn't touch it.
Truth be told, most kids don't eat much on holidays. Too much excitement I think. Try to make sure they have a good breakfast, then let them pick what they want to eat. I usually ask my kids to try 1 thing, just a small amount. When they come back later, I give them a turkey sandwich (if they like turkey) or PB&J. Don't stress yourself out over what the kids are eating. They'll be fine. It's only 1 day.
Need to know about cheese buying
I do not buy cheese but have 2 people on my list for presents this year that I would love to get some crackers and cheeses for. Do most cheese need refrigeration? I would think some would last longer than others, right? I can make this a 1 stop shop at Trader's Joe so need some ideas, anyone?
Never had mac and cheese pizza, but
I have my grandmother's recipe that we grew up on of baked mac and cheese. So much better than the box varieties.
Off topic - mac and cheese
I must be living under a rock, but I was watching the Food Network, and they were talking about restaurants that serve mac and cheese pizza. I might have to try it, it sounded pretty good, but I can't think of anything more fattening - unless you add bacon to it.
I second the motion on the mac & cheese!
And the 2nd or 3rd day, I like to take a slab of it and brown it in butter in the frying pan. Great for any meal of the day, even breakfast!
American Idol - Love, love, love Adam!!!
I think he'll make it til the end! At least I hope so!
Broccolli Cheese Casserole
This is a family favorite, and the only thing DH will touch that has mayonaisse in it. Very rich!
Preheat oven to 350.
1 box frozen chopped broccolli
1/2 c. mayonaisse
1/2 c. grated sharp cheddar cheese
1 egg, beaten
2 Tbsp chopped onion
1/2 can cream of mushroom soup
salt & pepper
Ritz crackers
Cook and drain broccolli. Combine everything except the cheese and the Ritz crackers. Pour into greased baking dish. Cover with cheese and crumbled Ritz crackers. Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes.
Philly Cheese Steak
I saw them making Philly Cheese Steak on the Food Network the other day and they used New York steak. Kind of expensive, but it looked really good. They said you could freeze it and then slice it thin while it was still slightly frozen (to make it easier), but I can't see why you couldn't have the butcher do it.
can cubed cheese be frozen?
I have a big cheese platter left over from a party this weekend. It consists various cubed cheeses. Did anyone ever freeze cheese?
Thanks
Wow..we always had grilled cheese too! Thanks for posting..sm
It is very hard to go to all the places that I once shared with my mom. I am trying to keep her in my heart and do all the fun and memorable things with my daughters. Everything I do seems to bring her close to my heart.. and makes me cry for her. Thanks again for posting. Take Care.
Grilled cheese and soup - nm
x
Ham, mac & cheese, and bakekd beans here.
s
|
