Extra Creamy Mac and Cheese

I love all types of Mac and cheese, but this recipe really tops them all in my opinion.  This extra creamy, extra cheesy Mac and cheese will leave you wanting second and third helpings (at least, I did when I tried it!)

Ingredients:
1/2 stick of butter
2 cups milk
1/4 cup flour
1/2 block of Velveeta cheese
2 lb. Box of macaroni
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Splash of olive oil

Instructions:
Add a splash of olive oil to a saucepan, and then melt the butter in the pan. When melted, add the flour slowly, whisking continuously. When it has all dissolved, add the milk and continue whisking. Now, cube the Velveeta, add the cubes, and allow it to melt.

Separately, boil the macaroni. Now, once the cheese mixture is fully melted, add the shredded cheddar and stir. Strain the macaroni and then pour the cheese mixture into it. Give it a stir, and serve!

This recipe makes for some great leftovers, too, so you can keep enjoying it until it's gone.  Enjoy!

Homemade Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream

With the warmer weather approaching, I've been looking at spring and summer time recipes.  It is never too early to try a new recipe!

My Mom and I recently got the ice cream maker attachment for our KitchenAid mixer. We decided to try peanut butter cup ice cream today, and more flavors to come!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
1 cup sugar
2 cups heavy cream
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1 cup chopped mini peanut butter cups

Instructions:

In a regular KitchenAid mixer, mix the peanut butter and sugar.  Cream it together on a medium speed for a few minutes until it is smooth and well mixed.  Now, turn off the mixer  add in the whole milk.  Mix on low for about 2 more minutes.  When it is all stirred together, add the heavy cream.  Now, mix on low for about 30 seconds. 

Now, set up your ice cream attachment onto the KitchenAid, or use an ice cream machine if that's what you are using.  Pour all of the liquid mixture into the ice cream bowl and let it churn for about 25 minutes on low.

When it is done churning, fold in the chopped peanut butter cups. Put all of the ice cream into a container, to be put into the freezer for about 20 minutes. 

You can use this recipe and adapt it for any flavor or topping that you want to try.

Enjoy!

Mini Blueberry Cakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

I experimented with a recipe today to see how I could incorporate homemade jam that I made this past summer, and these mini cakes were the result!

The base for these mini cakes is actually the same dough that I use to make cinnamon rolls, and then I used blueberry jam as the filling. You can substitute any type of fruit preserves or jam in this recipe.

Here's how I made these:

Ingredients:

For the cakes:
2 cups flour
1/3 cup sugar
4 tbsp. Butter
Dash of vanilla
3/4 tsp. Salt
2/3 cup milk
4 tsp. Baking powder

For the filling:
1/2 cup of fruit jam/preserves
1 tbsp. Butter, melted

For the frosting:
3 oz. Cream cheese, room temp
2 tbsp. Butter, softened
1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp. Vanilla

Instructions:

In a mixing bowl, add the dry ingredients for the cakes. Cut the butter into pats and add them. Now, start mixing it on a low setting and while it is mixing, add the milk and the vanilla. Mix this until it forms a stiff batter.

Now, sprinkle flour onto the counter or a cutting board, and roll out the dough until it is evenly flat and about a half inch thick. 

For the filling, melt the butter and brush it onto the dough. Now, spread around the fruit jam, covering the dough.

Roll this away from you in jelly roll fashion, and when it completely rolled, cut the roll into twelve pieces, each about an inch wide.

In a muffin tin, spray nonstick cooking spray, and then place the pieces of the roll into the tin (swirl side up.) 

Bake for 18 minutes at 350 degrees. 
Let them cool for a few minutes when they come out of the oven.

Now, in your mixer you are going to add the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and softened butter. Mix on a high setting for a few minutes so that it really creams the ingredients together. When it is thoroughly mixed, and the mini cakes are cooled, spread a bit of the frosting onto each one.

Enjoy!