Cheesy Baked Macaroni and Cheese

When I hosted my 10th Annual Christmas Lunch for CMPD in December, I tried a new macaroni and cheese recipe. Trying out a new recipe for a table full of police officers is never a good idea, but after watching the video from 'Jehan Can Cook' on YouTube, I felt pretty good about it. And I was right....it was delicious!

I modified it a little though -- like Jehan's recipe called for Gruyere cheese and I wasn't exactly sure what Gruyere cheese was made of or how it tasted. I'm sure a mac/cheese I've ordered at some restaurants have used it, but it was kind of on the pricey side, so I decided to use more cheddar instead. And like many mac/cheese recipes, it also called for mustard, and I always leave that out. I just have never used it, and again, trying something new when feeding others is no time to test things out. 

Since I'm not a pro-chef by any stretch of the imagination, after searching the internet for a good mac/cheese recipe, I learned that shredding your own cheese is key to making great macaroni and cheese (it melts more smoothly), but there is nothing easy by the trade-off. Shredding your own cheese is very time-consuming and take it from this inexperienced cook, shred it a few days ahead of time if you don't want to have a nervous breakdown. In the end, it will be a huge time-saver. As much as you can do ahead of time, do it!

My hand-held cheese grater is quite old (it doesn't even have the gripper at the bottom like the new ones), and grating 3 lbs. of cheese can take some time. When I hosted another dinner two months later (February 2020), my Christmas macaroni and cheese came up in conversation and how long it takes to shred cheese, and one of the sergeants said..."you need a food processor!"  

Well, I wouldn't exactly call it divine intervention, but it was a wonderful coincidence -- the very next day while I was trying to wake up, I was thinking about my visit with everyone the night before. I made a pot of coffee and started scanning TV channels and QVC had a 9-cup Kitchen Aid food processor as their 'Today's Special Value w/ free shipping'. It was perfect and I knew I had to have it! It's too big; not too small. 

This is Jehan's YouTube tutorial on this recipe:

Cheesy Macaroni and Cheese

Ingredients

• 1 lb. Macaroni cooked according to directions on the package
• 2 lb. Sharp cheddar cheese, grated
• 8 oz Gruyere cheese ** or smoked gouda, grated   
• 8 oz White cheddar, grated
• 4 cups whole milk
• ¼ cup butter
• ¼ cup flour
• 1 tsp Dijon or yellow mustard (optional)
• ¼ tsp black pepper or pepper sauce
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 egg beaten

** I substituted Gruyere with 8 oz. Mild Cheddar since I wasn't sure what it tasted like -- I already had 2 lbs. of Sharp cheddar. A friend of mine made this Christmas day and used Gruyere and she loved it! I'll try it next time. 

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13 x 9 baking dish then set aside.
• In a large heavy bottom sauce pot over low heat melt butter. Add flour and stir until smooth.
• Add milk and cook until milk is warm and sauce has thickened a bit. Set 1 1/2 cup of grated cheese aside, this will be for the top.
• Add reminder of cheeses, black pepper, Dijon mustard, salt and egg then stir until smooth. Add macaroni to the cheese sauce, stir making sure the macaroni is well coated.
• Pour into a large baking dish, sprinkle with remaining cheese.
• Place into oven and cook for 25-30 minutes or until bubbling and golden brown.
• Remove from oven. Allow to cool before serving.

For Jehan's website recipe, click here.

Christmas Mac/Cheese Photo

AHOP's 10th Annual Christmas Lunch

My work is interfering with my blogging! So busy at work....so busy at home, and I have so much to share! In particular, another CMPD volunteer assignment that I am very excited about (I'll save that for another post), and I celebrated my 10 year anniversary of cooking for my friends! I am having my blog redesigned to commemorate my anniversary. 

I wanted to share the highlights from my 10th CMPD Christmas lunch for the South Division. It was a hard meal to make because I had one of my busiest months ever at work and couldn't take off the time I needed to stay on track -- I thought I would have a nervous breakdown. I was getting so far behind, but thanks to my sweet and long-time friend, Melanie, who came to my rescue the night before.

It was a very nice turn-out. After lunch, the 1st shift officers left to deliver the toys they had collected for the families who were having a rough time of it. I had just enough time to tidy up the kitchen and load the dishwasher when around 1:45 pm, several 2nd shifters stopped by. A new sergeant stopped by too who had never been to my home before, and that's always nice.

I'll share the secret to the 'make ahead' mashed potatoes in another post, but what a time-saver that was, and the macaroni and cheese recipe I found on YouTube was restaurant quality. 

I hope everyone had a lovely holiday. My holiday lunch is always the highlight of my Christmas, and I look forward to it every year. I just wish it didn't go by so darn fast.

♥  

I found this Mac/Cheese recipe on YouTube. It was EXCELLENT!
I'll share the recipe in another post!

Make-ahead Mashed Potatoes -- I'll share this secret in another post. Wow! What a time-saver!

What a lovely view....

Beautiful holiday flowers from my friends in the South Division.

Happy New Year!

2017 was filled with all kinds of challenges. Some things I didn't handle very well, like house repairs. Expensive and major house repairs. But some very good things happened too, and God's grace, once again, reminds me just how much He cares for me. His grace definitely helped to outweigh the bad.

• January:  On January 24, 2017 after serving my friends for eight years, I delivered cream puffs one night to the Westover Division officers and they were happy to give me a picture. My first! It was definitely a bright spot in my year. I'm sure that sounds kind of silly to be so excited over a picture, but it was important to me and I had waited so long. When the officers are at my home, they enjoy a hot meal and conversation in peace and privacy. Except for taking pictures of the food, there are no pictures.
• February:  I started a new job. I thoroughly enjoyed my nice little paid break after losing my job in July 2016, and then it was nothing short of divine intervention that I was able to return to the company I left 12 years earlier.
• June:  I was honored to be recognized in CMPD's 2016 Annual Report. I think everyone has their 'moment in the sun' at least once in their lifetime, and I guess you could say this was mine. Thank you CMPD!
• July:  My 56-year-old house started falling apart. Major moisture issues plagued my crawlspace and, unfortunately, the remedy was very expensive. But it had to be done. The moisture damaged a wall in the den and it had to be replaced (twice) after the first handyman botched up the job.   
• September:  I found an awesome handyman to redo the wall the first handyman botched up. Super glad to have this behind me so I can get back to doing the things that I love. 

Like this....

Finally, after literally months of dealing with house repairs, I was able to invite my friends over for a holiday lunch.

I made these candy bar wrappers for the occasion and personalized them for the South Division.

Wishing everyone a Safe and Prosperous New Year

"May your troubles all be small ones, 

And your fortunes ten times ten,
May the good Lord bless and keep you, 

Til we meet again."

~ Meredith Willson

March of the penguins.....

If I were to put one of these adorable little penguins on my 2nd shift officer's salad plate at my next AHOP dinner, you might think they would say "AHOP, you have lost your mind!"  But to the contrary, they would all find them rather amusing and would appreciate all the fun I had putting them together, only with them in mind.  It's like the time I put fanned strawberries on the breakfast plates for 1st shift. I can just hear them now...."Do we eat it?  Is it just for decoration? It's too cute to eat!  Uhhhhh.........."

My friend, Sarah, shared this recipe with me on Facebook over the holiday, then another long-time friend of mine, Dara, made them for her family holiday dinner.  Her picture turned out better than the picture in the original recipe so, with her permission, these pictures are from her dinner. Nice job, Dara!  Your entire meal looks divine!

I haven't made these yet, but you can be assured that I will.  I just couldn't wait to share them with you.  Don't be surprised if you find one of these little guys staring back at you at the next dinner.  :)

~    ~    ~    ~    ~    ~    ~    ~

Egg Penguins

Adapted from this recipe

9 large ripe olives
6 hard-cooked eggs
12 small baby carrots

Directions 

• For the penguin heads, attach one olive to the top of each egg with a toothpick. 
• For beaks, cut six carrots 1/2 inch from the pointed end; attach the flat side of a pointed piece to the center of each head with half a toothpick.
• For the feet, make a lengthwise cut through the remaining carrots; place flat side down in pairs (trim carrots if necessary). 
• Place a toothpick in each carrot; press an egg on top of each pair.
• For flippers, cut the remaining olives lengthwise into quarters; attach one olive quarter to each side of eggs with half a toothpick. 
• Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
  
  Prep/Total Time: 20 minutesYield: 6 Servings

Note:  I haven't made these yet myself, so when I do (and I will), I will update this post if there are any tweaks.
 

Too cute to eat, I say, too cute to eat!  

Merry Christmas...God Bless Us, Everyone!

Remembering all of the police officers, fireman and EMS who are working this Christmas Day, for you and for me. You are appreciated!

~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. ~ Luke 2:8-14

No one can recite Luke 2:8-14 like Linus....just had to add this.
That's what Christmas IS all about!

And one more....the Christmas Story as told by the children of St. Paul's Church
in Auckland, New Zealand. I love this video...and the 'donkey push' trying to get
Mary and the donkey up the hill...priceless.  

Enjoy!   

Wishing you all a joyful, safe and happy holiday ~ Merry Christmas! 

Strawberry Santas....HO-HO-HO!

You will be the talk of the party if you arrive with these cute little Santa's.  I made these little guys for the first time today for the 10th floor Holiday Potluck at work, and they were a big hit!  I also took a plate down to the CMPD South Division.  Served on a bed of shredded coconut to resemble snow....so cute!

Here's what you need...and strawberries, of course!

Santa Strawberries

Adapted from this recipe

1 dozen strawberries

1 8 oz. Cool Whip    

Handful of chocolate sprinkles
Pastry bag and tips (or) two large ZipLoc bags

Using a paring knife, slice the leafy end off each strawberry so they stand up evenly. Then slice the tip off to make a little hat.  I did about 7-8 Santa's at a time and lined them up on a folded paper towel to absorb some of the juice.  This way you can place the hat in front so the hats don't get mixed up (no laughing -- I'm sure I have a little OCD somewhere in my family.)

All shapes and sizes....just like us.  :o)

I used a pastry bag to pipe out the Cool Whip.  If you don't already own one....it is a very inexpensive kitchen tool that you will use over and over and over and over!  Pipe out the Cool Whip for the little head, then plop the little hat on top.  

This is the size pastry bag and tips I used.  

You can buy these Wilton products at Micheal's and other craft stores.  The tips are very inexpensive (something like $.99/ea.)  If you don't have a pastry bag or you don't think you'll use it often, a large ZipLoc bag works very well.  For the buttons and hat, the hole should be no larger than a pin-head. Super tiny.  Use a separate bag for the face and cut a slightly larger hole.  Cut a very small hole for the face and test it.  If it's not large enough, cut a little more and test it again.  Keep testing until you get the size face that looks like the picture.  You can make the cut larger -- you can't make it smaller.

  

A Zip-Loc bag works well to pipe out the Cool Whip if you don't have a pastry bag, but
Wilton pastry bags and tips are an inexpensive addition to your kitchen gadgets.
Don't be scared....go get one! ;)

Place two chocolate sprinkles on Santa's "face" for the eyes.  

TIP: I found the sprinkles very hard to pick up and put on the face without messing up the face.  Dip your finger in water and then pick up a sprinkle using the flat side of your wet finger -- that made it easier to place the sprinkle on the face.    

This was the first time I've made these Santa's -- the next time I think I will chop up some of the sprinkles so the eyes are smaller.
  

You're done! Store them in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Enjoy! 

♥ 

Updated photos from 2014:

2014 Gift Shop Treat Table

I served these little guys on a bed of shredded coconut to give the appearance of snow
(an idea I saw in a magazine). Very cute!

Tis' the season...for shoplifters

This little tree went to the South Division.

I love these little Charlie Brown trees.  I have purchased several over the years and have given them to friends and colleagues who commented on my own tree.  This year, how appropriate for these little trees to go to a few police stations and to the officers who stop by AHOP when they can.

Today, this little tree found a home at the office shared by the Sergeants in the South Division.  They all share a large office with several desks to accommodate their rotating shifts.  I hope this tree will put a smile on their face in this season of shoplifters, robberies, auto larceny, home break-ins, and holiday crazy people.  I hope it will remind them that it is also a season of miracles.  For all the bad they see (especially this time of year), it must be hard to see some of the good.  I hope a lot of good comes their way this Christmas.  They all so deserve it.  ♥

My cute little gift tags. 

UPDATE:  One more tree delivered last Tuesday night to Sgt. John in the Central Division.  One of the nicest officers I know and so proud to call him my friend.  When Sgt. John was promoted, he transferred from South to Central division, so I don't get to visit with him now as often as I'd like to.  I walked in with a pastry box filled with about 40 cream puffs and this tree.  I asked Sgt. John if he would take a picture of his tree so I could update my blog.  I was so happy when I received this picture.  I have so very few pictures of the officers I cook for so I was happy to get this.

This little tree found a home at Central Division.

A tree also found a home in the Steele Creek division -- in the lobby of their beautiful new facility.

"I never thought it was such a bad little tree....it's not bad at all, really.

Maybe it just needs a little love." ~ Linus

A very special gift, from my very special friends!

Now that we have said hello to 2012, I wanted to share my special gift from my friends in blue! 

My last Saturday breakfast just happened to fall on Christmas Eve.  Twelve officers came and it was so festive.  My little house was decorated inside and out.  Even breakfast seemed to turn out a little better than usual.  It was the usual ... scrambled eggs w/cheese, applesauce pancakes, bacon, sausage gravy and biscuits, OJ and coffee. 

After breakfast we all gathered in the living room to open the big box they walked in with, which happened to have my name on it. Whatever was inside they said was fragile.  It was packed so well with bubble wrap that it took two officers to cut through all the packing tape.  This is when I learned my heat packing friends are also packing pocket knives.  Well, I never in a million years would have guessed what was inside this box.  My friends gave me my very own neon sign to commemorate AHOP.  AHOP has a sign!!  What an amazing and thoughtful gift from my friends in the South Division.  If ever I question again whether or not these guys really enjoy coming to my house for breakfast and dinner, I will just look at this sign and know that they do!  

I love these officers.  I can't hardly say the words without welling up with tears.  They make my life a better life, and for that I am so thankful.  I wish everybody could see them through my eyes – they have the biggest hearts of anyone I know. ♥

Thank you to my boss, Robert, and his wife, Pam, for this lovely Christmas plate to hold my pancakes. It looked so pretty and festive on my table Christmas Eve morning.

Angels in our midst!

In this season of miracles and giving, I was humbled and honored last week when my boss and colleagues presented me with an abundance of Harris Teeter gift cards … enough to sponsor 6-7 breakfasts or 3-4 dinners. There are not many times I find myself speechless, but I couldn’t talk through all the tears.  I was so touched by their sincerity and generosity.

I shared the news of my co-workers' thoughtfulness with my officers today.  I wanted them to know they had secret angels in their midst.  One Sgt. commented … “What a generous gift from your co-workers; it gives us a sense of appreciation the community has for us.”

Through your gift to me, you honored them.  You let them know, loud and clear, that they are appreciated!

You are all angels, I say, angels!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart!