SHEET PAN MAC & CHEESE

SHEET PAN MAC & CHEESE
2 LARGE cans evaporated milk (12 ounce)
1 cup cubed Velveeta pieces
2 1/2 cups grated Cheddar
2 1/2 cups grated Gruyere
1 teaspoon dry mustard (optional)
1 tablespoon Frank’s original hot sauce
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
1 pound macaroni, cooked according to package instructions
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Nonstick cooking spray

  • Preheat the oven to 425°.
  • In a saucepan over a medium heat, add the evaporated milk, processed cheese, 1 cup of the Cheddar, 1 cup of the Gruyere, the dry mustard if using, the hot sauce, salt and pepper to taste, whisking until the cheeses are melted and the mixture is smooth, 2 to 3 minutes.
  • Add the cooked pasta to the cheese sauce and stir to coat and combine.
  • In a small bowl, toss together the remaining cheeses.
  • Remove the sheet pan from the oven and carefully spray with the cooking spray.
  • Pour the mac and cheese from the saucepan into the sheet pan and spread evenly.
  • Sprinkle the cheese mixture evenly over the top.
  • Bake until the cheese topping is fully melted and the mixture is bubbly, 15 to 20 minutes.

A to Z CHALLENGE ~ S is for SPOT, SANDBOX, SIGNALMAN and SNOWSHED

A to Z challenge 

Sandbox – A container on locomotives that holds sand, which a crew can drop onto the rail to improve rail adhesion under wet, steep, or slippery rail conditions. The sandbox and operating mechanism are collectively known as sanding gear.

Signalman – A person in charge of the signalling at a station or junction, often in a signal box.

Snow shed – A long shelter erected over a railroad track on the side of a mountain to protect the line from avalanches and drifting.

BEER BRAISED CHICKEN

BEER BRAISED CHICKEN
1/4 pound bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
8 skinless, boneless chicken thighs
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
All-purpose flour, for dredging
1 tablespoon avocado oil
1 (12-ounce) bottle beer (preferably brown ale) I used MGD
1 cup chicken stock
1 cup frozen pearl onions, thawed
1/2 pound small red-skinned new or gold potatoes, halved
2 tablespoons whole-grain mustard (optional)
2 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar
4 sprigs fresh thyme leaves
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)

  • Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Add the bacon and cook until browned, about 5 minutes.
  • Remove bacon pieces with a slotted spoon and transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate.
  • Season the chicken with salt and pepper and dredge in flour, shaking off the excess.
  • Add the avocado oil to the drippings in the pot.
  • Add the chicken in batches and cook over medium-high heat until golden on the bottom, 4-5 minutes, then flip and sear the other side, about 1 minute. 
  • Add the beer, onions, potatoes, mustard, sugar, thyme leaves and 1 cup chicken broth to the pot and stir, making sure the chicken is fully submerged.
  • Simmer until the chicken is cooked through, about 15 minutes.
  • Stir in the bacon and parsley. 

A to Z CHALLENGE ~ Q/R Q is for ?? AND R is for RAILWAY, ROUNDHOUSE & ROAD RUNNER

A to Z challenge 

Today’s definitions are for the letter “R” because I quite honestly CANNOT find anything for Q 😀 so we’ll just pretend it doesn’t even exist.

  • Railway station A train station, a stopping point for trains, usually with passenger access
  • Railway terminal A building for passengers at the end of a railway line
  • Reefer A refrigerated rail car used to transport perishable goods
  • Roundhouse A circular or semi-circular structure used for storage and running maintenance of locomotives

HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY week 17 of 2021

Be sure to join us for Happy Homemaker Monday and link up
with our host, Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

I hope everyone had a WONDERFUL week! We had a rare late spring/early summer like week here so hubby and I took a quick trip to the coast and REALLY enjoyed the beautiful weather. It is so unusual for this time of year here that we were able to snag a a beach side room for almost nothing!  We literally turned on the fireplace and slept with the door open and we LOVED hearing the waves ALL night!

We did a little antiquing too and just had a relaxing trip.

Now this week we’re back to the highs in the 60’s and lows in the 40’s. So the sandals are stuck back into the closet and the tennies and sweatshirts back out 😀

Hot Water and Strawberry Pineapple Superfood Smoothie

THIS WEEK’S TO DO LIST, PROJECTS & APPOINTMENTS
  • LAUNDRY & CLEANING Laundry is done except for a load of sheets tomorrow.
  • GROCERIES & ERRANDS I’m doing most of the groceries & errands today and baking tomorrow.
  • PAPERWORK & PHONE CALLS I need to finish the maps and trip planning for the upcoming family reunion and project search.
  • RECIPE RESEARCH & MENU PLANNING I will be searching through my new found recipe treasures to see what will be on the experiment list. Many of the “new” recipes are so old that they need ingredient research before I attempt them – I just LOVE those types!

WHAT’S ON THE DVR/TV
  • NETFLIX We have 2 more seasons of Stargate SG1 and then will move on to Stargate Atlantis reruns
  • DISNEY+ A couple of Mighty Ducks episodes to watch as well as a couple of Secrets of Sulphur Springs and Mandalorian 😀
  • CABLE I’m starting to weed out and narrow down my focus – too many shows are becoming repetitive or too dark ALL the time – GGG, DDD, Beat Bobby Flay, Tournament of Champions, Ellen’s Game of Games, Bull, New Amsterdam, The Good Doctor, 911, 911 Lone Star, FBI, FBI Most Wanted, Young Sheldon, The Unicorn, Last Man Standing, MOM, NCIS, NCIS New Orleans, NCIS LA, Magnum PI, MacGyver, Blue Bloods, The Resident, Chicago series

I finally started (I didn’t do much reading last week) SPY MISTRESS by Jennifer Chiaverini. I’ve read her many times in the past with her quilt series and always enjoy her stories.

“enthralling historical novel set during the Civil War era, this time inspired by the life of “a true Union woman as true as steel” who risked everything by caring for Union prisoners of war — and stealing Confederate secrets”…

On our trip I had GREAT success on finding 2 separate vintage recipe boxes FULL of old time recipes! I wish I had taken a picture of the old (1940’s ish based on the color and bakelite handle) American Home Maker Menu box before I did a quick paint job.

And hubby is about to start working on my other old hope chest soon!

The drawer in the bottom needs some repairs as does the swinging drawer on the inside. It’s painted white now, but if you look 👀 under the blemishes you can see it has also been painted yellow, olive and pink at one time or another over the years. I can’t wait to see what the original wood looks like.

It’s really kind of sad that this beautiful old “HOPE” chest that has held so many other people’s hopes, dreams and memories over the years ended up discarded in an old junk shop. We even found a couple of OLD school pictures caught in the bottom drawer edges. ☹️ But we’ll get it restored and it will again be cherished and eventually be full of my quilts and extra blankets. I love that it’s completely cedar lined.

My other one is painted candy apple 🍎 red, but I think this one will end up painted teal blue 😊

If you look 👀 close there are even a couple of future hidden projects inside – some old vintage sewing machine cabinet drawers that he’s turning into part of my kitchen spice cabinet and a great wooden box with beautiful wood that someone had tole painted black! I can’t wait to see what it looks like after he sands off that horrible black paint! The unpainted wood on the inside is gorgeous 😀
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DINNER
BBQ PORK TENDERLOINS & SALAD
PULLED PORK PASTRY PUFFS & SALAD
CHICKEN & SAUSAGE CASSOULET
C.O.R.N. CLEAN OUT REFRIGERATOR NIGHT
Y.O.Y.O. YOUR ON YOUR OWN
PAN SEARED CHICKEN IN HERB SAUCE & BALSAMIC CARROTS
CHICKEN VESUVIO & BROCCOLI
DESSERT
CINNAMON PEAR PLATZ (GERMAN COFFEE CAKE)

  • BEER BRAISED CHICKEN
  • SHEET PAN MAC & CHEESE
  • PISTACHIO CRUSTED CHICKEN STEAKS

A to Z CHALLENGE ~ P is for PORTERS, PEANUTS, PASSENGER CARS, PENGUINS, PUSH AND PULL

WOW A to Z challenge is moving right along. I can’t believe we’re already on the letter P!

Have you ever seen a long train with engines on both ends? Did you notice that often the engines are going in opposite directions? There is actually a term for this 😀

Push–pull train – A term for a configuration of locomotive-hauled trains, allowing them to be driven from either end of the train. Also known as “Top and tail” train with locomotives at both the front and back.

Another term that is bit obsolete is that of the Porter – who is an employee who performs various physical duties, chiefly but not exclusively involving lifting. Various types of porters include:

  • A baggage porter assisting with luggage
  • An operating porter assisting with safe working duties
  • A station porter assisting with general station duties
  • A lad porter also known as a junior station porter

Now those are great definitions, but I don’t have a #RailArt picture for either one 😀 But I do have this awesome one I captured a short while ago for one of my favorite vintage cartoons, Peanuts (Snoopy has always been a favorite) 😀  as well as some fun penguins, an abandoned passenger car and an unreadable PINK #RailArt.

PAN SEARED CHICKEN with RUSTIC TOMATO GRAVY & FLUFFY BUTTERED MASHED POTATOES

I got this recipe from Jet Tila and have used it ever since to make the fluffiest, lightest and tastiest mashed potatoes.

PAN SEARED CHICKEN with RUSTIC TOMATO GRAVY & FLUFFY BUTTERED MASHED POTATOES

PAN SEARED CHICKEN with RUSTIC TOMATO GRAVY
3 to 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 tablespoons avocado oil
2 tablespoons butter
1 bunch green onions, sliced THINLY
3 cloves garlic, minced
1-2 tablespoons FRESH chopped thyme leaves
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
15 ounce can petite diced tomatoes, drained, but juice reserved
chicken stock
1 tablespoon chicken bouillon
1 tablespoon WONDRA flour
3 tablespoons Mascarpone cheese

  • Rinse and pat dry the chicken breasts.
  • Add enough chicken stock to the reserved tomato juice to equal 1 3/4 cups. Whisk in chicken bouillon.
  • Heat oil in skillet over medium high heat.
  • Generously season chicken breasts with FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper.
  • Dredge chicken breasts in flour.
  • Sear chicken breast on each side 2-3 minutes per side.
  • Remove chicken from pan and keep warm.
  • Add onions and garlic, sauteing 2-3 minutes.
  • Add tomatoes and thyme leaves, simmering 10 minutes until tomatoes are cooked through.
  • Stir in Mascarpone cheese until creamy.
  • Add chicken breasts to sauce, turning to coat.
  • Serve over fluffy mashed potatoes.

FLUFFY BUTTERED MASHED POTATOES
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
2 pounds SMALL Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cut into half (2 inch pieces)
1/2 cup half and half
1 1/2 tablespoons FRESH grated sea salt
1 teaspoon FRESH ground sea salt

  • Add potato pieces into a large saucepan and cover by 1 inch with COLD* (see notes) water.
  • Add 1 tablespoon of sea salt.
  • Bring to a boil over HIGH heat.
  • Reduce heat to MEDIUM heat and simmer for 15-18 minutes until potatoes are fork tender.
  • Drain the potatoes well in a colander and then return to the pan over LOW heat.
  • Warm the half and half in the microwave for 45 seconds.
  • Rice or mash potatoes with a masher until lumps are gone.
  • Fold in half and half with a rubber spatula.
  • Add butter 1 piece at a time, folding it gently into the potato mixture.
  • Season to taste with remaining salt and pepper.

NOTES:

  • Using the COLD water makes the starches in the potatoes cook slower and more evenly so that the outsides are not more done when the centers are ready and they become creamier.
  • Give your potatoes a kick with a bit of roasted garlic, chives or even some wasabi for some variety.

BUFFALO CHICKEN SLIDERS

BUFFALO CHICKEN SLIDERS
12 pack of Kings Sweet Hawaiian Rolls
2 1/2 cups chopped Costco rotisserie chicken pieces
1/2 red onion, THINLY sliced
8 slices Havarti cheese
1/3-1/2 cup Frank’s Original Buffalo Sauce
1/3 cup butter, melted
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 tablespoon powdered Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • LIGHTLY spray 9×13 pan with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Stir together chicken pieces and buffalo sauce until well coated.
  • Cut entire package of Hawaiian rolls in half so you have a top and bottom.
  • Place roll bottoms in pan.
  • Place half the cheese in a single layer on top of rolls.
  • Top with chicken pieces in an even layer.
  • Evenly layer onions on top of chicken pieces.
  • Layer remaining cheese in a single layer.
  • Place tops on rolls.
  • Whisk together melted butter, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, garlic powder and Parmesan cheese.
  • Brush roll tops with butter mixture.
  • Cover LIGHTLY with foil.
  • Bake 20 minutes.
  • Remove foil and bake 5 minutes more.

NOTE: You can use regular rolls, but the Hawaiian rolls are a much sweeter roll that lend a great profile to this recipe.

A to Z CHALLENGE ~ M is for MILK TRAIN

A to Z challenge 

MILK TRAIN – In the U.S., milk trains ran from the countryside to the cities making numerous stops at minor depots to pick up cans of fresh milk, making them a colloquial expression for a very slow train.

I don’t see milk trains here in lumber country, let alone any with #RailArt, but it’s fun to imagine a time in the past when these were a frequent occurrence. 😀

I call these first two,  #MoustacheMan and #MonsterEyes

Monk, Mere and the Miscellaneous are pretty obvious!

A to Z CHALLENGE ~ L is for LINK & PIN

LINK & PIN An obsolete method of coupling rail cars, consisting of manually dropping the coupling pin into the draw bar as the cars joined. Extremely hazardous to the brakemen of its day, it was outlawed in the United States by the Railroad Safety Appliance Act of 1893.

Today’s #RailArt was bright and “L” related. Half the trains around here have empty LUMBER cars, but only until they get to town and then leave full 😀