dijon mac and cheese

I like the part about learning to cook where you start to be able to make up your own recipes. It makes last-minute clean-out-the-fridge meals so much more enjoyable.

Take this meal for example. A year ago it would have fallen into the "no meal" category. I had gotten home around 10 one night, realized I hadn't eaten supper, and so looked in my bare cupboards for things to scrape together.

With shells, milk, cheddar cheese, some flour, red pepper flakes and a dash of dijon mustard at the end I stumbled upon a dish I've actually made again. On purpose. When other ingredients were available. That's what I call a MEAL!

Hooray for progress.

smoked gouda macaroni & cheese

Can I give up? On this winter thing? My body seems to already have- my skin is so dry it actually cracks at times (painful), my mouth will randomly bleed when I smile (frightening), and my scalp... well, it's gross.

This is the time of year where I could care less about eating more vegetables and would much prefer to shove as many carbs and cheeses in my face as I can. Preferably at the same time so I can save my precious hibernation-fighting energy. Enter Smoked Gouda Macaroni & Cheese. The happy medium between comfort food and not feeling guilty while eating it. The addition of spinach makes it so much easier to eat four portions and somehow make it reasonable.

smoked gouda macaroni & cheese (via Cooking Light)

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 1/4 cups)

Ingredients

• 1 (1-ounce) slice whole wheat bread
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cups fat-free milk
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 cup (2 ounces) shredded smoked Gouda cheese
• 1/3 cup (about 1 1/2 ounces) grated fresh Parmesan cheese
• 5 cups coarsely chopped fresh spinach
• 4 cups hot cooked elbow macaroni (about 2 cups uncooked)
• Cooking spray

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350°.

Place bread in a food processor, and pulse 10 times or until coarse crumbs measure 1/2 cup.

Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onions and garlic; cook 1 minute. Add flour; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Gradually add milk, salt, and pepper, stirring constantly with a whisk until blended. Bring to a boil; cook until thick (about 2 minutes). Add cheeses; stir until melted.

Add spinach and macaroni to cheese sauce, stirring until well blended. Spoon mixture into a 2-quart baking dish coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs. Bake at 350° for 15 minutes or until bubbly.

An open letter to the recession

Dear Recession,

What gives? I'm nice. My friends are nice. Why you got to pick on us like this? I was under the impression my mid (ok, getting into late) twenties were a time for frolicking and stupid jobs. For switching these stupid jobs willy-nilly while we find our 'true selves' or maybe just give up or something. Instead you're forcing us to stay in horrible jobs, to take pay cuts at dumb ones, and to fight our way into positions we don't even want in the first place. My friend applied for a part-time gig at a coffee shop the other day- there were close to 500 other applicants. Really? Come on, Recession, that's just not cool.

I thought I had finally reached a point in my life where I could afford to drink Stella, that PBR was just for when I wanted to be ironic or whimsical. 'Look at me! Aren't I funny with my cheap beer! Ha ha ha!' Ha? No one's laughing anymore, Recession. I have cans (CANS!?) of PBR in my fridge now. You put them there.

And that impulse Kraft macaroni & cheese 18 pack from Costco? It sat idle in my cupboards for close to six months. Guess what? Yeah, it's almost gone now. You're making me eat processed cheese powder?! You are one sick bastard.

So really, if you could, could you just leave us alone for a bit? I mean, me and my friends, we were already hovering right above the poverty line, putting our toes in the water a little bit, you really don't need to push us in.

Yours truly,

Mary-Claire Runchey

unuggggh

No Mary-Claire, there is absolutely no reason to put three chipotle chilies in your milk-less Kraft mac & cheese. It will not make it taste any better, it will just make you really glad you live by yourself for the rest of the night.

No picture for this one. It was gross and I'm embarrassed I ate it. Being broke and digging into your Costco impulse purchases is more dangerous than previously believed.