Lovin' From the Oven

Macaroni and Cheese

by 6 Comments

november-13

I normally don’t do this kind of thing, but I decided to give it a try for once. I entered a mystery ingredient surprise blogger (WHEW that was a mouthful!) contest and just so happened to become a finalist!! I can’t believe it!!

Please vote for my macaroni and cheese recipe here: http://www.mysteryingredientbloggershowcase.com/#vote

There’s no registering or anything like that. Simply click “vote” next to my name (Kim) and recipe! You can vote once a day for the next two weeks. Thank you so much for your support!

november-14

They sent me a “mystery ingredient” in the mail to make something with. When I opened the brown package, I found out that it was Colman’s mustard. At first, I panicked a little bit. What on Earth am I supposed to do with mustard? My DF hates it and I only eat it on hot dogs, hamburgers, and sandwiches. Lucky for me, they sent two forms of mustard.. regular mustard and mustard powder.

november

november-17

I used the mustard powder to create a simple dish: mac n’ cheese. It’s such a great comfort dish, especially during the colder months. It’s so easy to make that it’s almost embarrassing to make it from a box!

november-16

I made a bread crumb/Cheez-It mixture to add on top for an extra layer of crunch. My DF ate 1/4 of the pan and didn’t even question the ingredients used because of how inviting the dish looked. You can’t go wrong with mac n’cheese, whether you’re six years old or sixty.

november-11

Again, I would really loveeee if you could vote for my macaroni and cheese recipe here (and don’t be afraid to share with others!). All you have to do is click on the orange “vote now” button next to my name. 

I’m really excited about this contest so I’m sorry ahead of time if I talk about it too much. Thanks again!!!

Print
Macaroni And Cheese

Ingredients

  • 1 box (I used 13.25 oz) whole wheat elbows
  • 6 tablespoons butter
  • 3 1/2 tablespoons flour
  • 3/4 tsp dry mustard
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • 2 1/4 cups milk
  • 5 cups cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup cheez-its, crushed
  • 1/2 cup bread crumbs
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. In a large saucepan, cool the pasta for 6-8 minutes. Drain and set aside.
  3. Using the same pan over medium-low heat, completely melt your butter. Add in the flour, dry mustard, salt, and pepper and mix well.
  4. Slowly stir in the milk and bring the temperature up to medium high until it begins to bubble. Bring the temperature back down and let simmer together for about a minute.
  5. Remove from heat and stir in 4 cups of cheddar cheese until it is completely melted. Stir in the cooked pasta until it is evenly coated in the cheese mixture. Pour the mixture into a 9x13 pan.
  6. Put the last cup of cheese on top.
  7. Now, make the topping by mixing together the cheez-its and bread crumbs. Pour evenly over the pan.
  8. Top the pan off by sprinkling paprika and cayenne pepper on top. Bake for 15-20 minutes.
https://lovintheoven.com/macaroni-and-cheese/

Also, here’s a coupon for you to use if you plan on purchase mustard anytime soon!

Colman's Mustard Coupon

Parmesan and Spinach Orzo

by 4 Comments


orzo

Have I told you guys that my DF and I have booked a venue for our wedding? I’m SO excited because this means I’m no longer venue hunting, emailing a million people for price lists, and comparing what exactly each place gives us. My DF and I are pretty easy going and aren’t very picky, so to find a place that is mostly all inclusive is perfect for us.

orzo-2

Next step: Wedding dress hunting. I actually went by myself last weekend and hated it. The salesperson was great and I couldn’t have asked for anyone nicer, but for every dress that I tried on, I couldn’t take it off fast enough. I tried a variety of styles, too. Ball gown, sheath, sweetheart, v neck, straight across, mermaid… it was all just too much for me.

orzo-3

orzo-4

Maybe it was because I went alone, maybe it’s because I should have tried on dresses that were actually in my size, maybe I should’ve tried them on in heels. Who knows.

Either way, I’m thinking I want more of a “white dress” than a “wedding dress.” Plus, why would you ever spend a thousand dollars on a dress that you wear once? That’s a whole lotta dinero.orzo-5

I’ll keep you posted on how that goes.

Meanwhile, this orzo dish is a perfect side for dinner. It pairs well with meats and vegetables. It’s also good cold (maybe that’s just me), but I do have a thing for day old, cold food… orzo-6

Next time, I’d toss is some more spinach since it shrivels so much when cooked and practically disappears. Recipe from Life as a Strawberry.

Print
Parmesan and Spinach Orzo

Serving Size: 4

Ingredients

  • 8 oz orzo, uncooked (half a box)
  • 2 Tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 2 green onions, chopped
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tsp. flour
  • 1 cup milk (I used skim!)
  • 1 cups spinach, chopped
  • 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, shredded, plus extra for garnish

Directions

  1. Cook orzo according to package directions. Set aside.
  2. Heat olive oil in a medium-sized pot over medium heat. Add onions, garlic, salt and pepper and saute for 1 minute or until onions are translucent. Add flour to form a roux and cook for an additional minute.
  3. Add about 1/4 cup of the milk to the pot and whisk to work out any lumps from the roux. When lumps are worked out, add the remaining milk and whisk to combine. Bring to a simmer and cook until sauce has thickened, about 8 minutes.
  4. Add chopped spinach to sauce and cook an additional 2 minutes or until spinach has cooked down. Remove sauce from heat.
  5. Stir parmesan cheese into sauce. When cheese has melted, add cooked orzo to sauce and toss to coat. Garnish with extra parmesan cheese and serve immediately.
https://lovintheoven.com/parmesan-and-spinach-orzo/

Bacon Avocado Pasta

by 1 Comment

pasta-4

 

Let’s be real here. I eat A LOT of pasta… probably not as much as I would if I wasn’t dating my DB. If it were up to me, I’d make pasta for dinner every night. My DB, on the other hand, always vetoes my decision for pasta making because it isn’t exactly the healthiest dish. There are too many carbs and not enough working out.

As much as I’m ashamed to say it, we don’t really workout. Like… at all. A workout for me means chasing kids around the house and walking around the airport in heels. As for my DB, he does Insanity workouts every once in a blue moon. We really need to change that.

pasta-2

Sometimes, I’ll make pasta just for myself, justifying the carbs by adding avocados and other assorted vegetables. Whenever I do that, my DB won’t go anywhere near it so it’s all for me. It’s one of my secret tactics so I get the pasta all to myself. *insert maniacal laugh here*

pasta

This is the perfect summer salad since it isn’t served piping hot. The avocado and tomatoes provide that “cooling” effect which makes it a great dish to be served alongside your BBQ.

pasta-3

A new 4th of July dish for tomorrow, maybe? I’m sure your guests would appreciate it!

pasta-5

 

Be safe on this four day weekend! Even if you aren’t lucky enough to have a 4 day weekend (I’m included in that category), at least enjoy tomorrow outside!

This dish could easily be doubled or even tripled to accommodate your party.

Print
Bacon Avocado Pasta

Ingredients

  • 8 oz penne pasta
  • 2 avocados, chopped
  • 2 roma tomatoes, chopped
  • 4 slices cooked thick cut bacon, crumbled
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/8 tsp oregano
  • 1 tsp italian seasoning
  • freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • pinch of garlic salt
  • 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Directions

  1. Cook the pasta according to the directions on the box, until al dente.
  2. Once cooked, strain the pasta and place it in a large bowl.
  3. Toss the pasta with the remaining ingredients, until thoroughly combined. Serve immediately.
  4. I saved some parmesan cheese and threw it on top after plating, but you can toss it in as well.
https://lovintheoven.com/bacon-avocado-pasta/

Categories