We had his school picnic yesterday and that was fun. It was a very hot day, though, so I couldn't wait to blow that joint and get back home!
Everyone is asked to bring something, but the PTO supplies the hot dogs and fixins. 5th grade was asked to bring side dishes, such as baked beans, etc. Well, I figured there would be 10 pots of baked beans, so I didn't want to do that.
So, I turned to the internets. What could I whip up in my crock pot that would make a nice addition to a pot luck?
I found this recipe for Macaroni and Cheese! I changed the details from 8 servings to 24 servings and went shopping.
I did read the reviews prior to prepping it and did NOT pre-cook the macaroni noodles prior to adding to the crock pot. They turned out perfect and not mooshy! I was a bit disappointed that the cheddar cheese separated on me and it didn't look very appetizing (some reviewers suggested using Velveeta in place of regular cheese), but it did taste good and I had several compliments on it and 1 request for the recipe.
Pretty surprising, considering I had never made it before.
I have some extra ingredients left over, so perhaps I will try just the regular recipe. :-)
After the kids got in bed last night, I had to call Lexmark customer service because my printer had started to act weird on Monday and I spent over an hour on the phone with them.
I must say, they have the best customer service department of any company I've ever dealt with. The issue was resolved, but I was so tired after that I didn't have time to do my blog and set it to be sent earlier, so that's why it's late today.
Also - keep your eyes peeled! I'm going to be having an Avon giveaway soon! How fun is that? Stay tuned!
I've gotten in the habit of making recipes for the first time to bring places, too. I don't know why I do it, but I haven't regretted it...yet.
ReplyDeleteThe mac & cheese sounds yummy. Were there actually tons of baked beans?
I'm curious, too. Were there 10 pots of baked beans? You can't go wrong with mac and cheese. As long as it isn't mushy, how bad can pasta and cheese be?!!
ReplyDeleteA crock pot version sounds great and easy!
I'm waiting for Friday to arrive so we can start our summer break. Little Beatle is actually home today with poison ivy EVERYWHERE!
ReplyDeleteVeggie Stick has a migraine...so instead of Thursday being their last day, they'll both have to go in on Friday (make up day).
Glad the mac and cheese turned out for you. Trying a new recipe always worries me a little until it's done and I can taste it.
Love Mac & Cheese and glad that it turned out well. I need to be a school teacher so I can get a summer break, too!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the recipe link. This will be a great post-baby recipe...for my husband to make, that is!
ReplyDeleteGlad it turned out well for you! I love me some mac n cheese.
ReplyDeleteSorry it was so hot, though. The high is only 68 degrees her today. Did Mother Nature not get the memo that it is June? That bitch.
I have made that exact recipe before and I will admit that it didn't look appetizing AT ALL but it really did taste good( I LOVE Allrecipes.com too!). Most of it went to waste because nobody would eat it. Oh well, more for me!
ReplyDeleteHave a great summer with the kids. You know by August us mother's will be sooo ready for the kiddos to go back to school!
Thanks for the recipe. It sounds so easy. I always throw in a little Velveeta and it makes the other cheeses and the oil hang together.
ReplyDeleteYou can never judge food totally by it's looks. I can eat things that don't look that good, but I can't get past things that have a slimy consistency. So I guess I'm pickier about textures than flavors. Enjoy the Summer break!
ReplyDelete3C - I kind of had to have a leap of faith on this one since I needed a large quantity. Whew!
ReplyDeleteA. - No, there weren't 10, but there were plenty of baked beans. I'm glad I took something different.
BG - I really sweated it until it was finished. My back up plan was to pick up something from Kroger. LOL.
JFab - If I go back to work, I'll be looking for an admin position at a school. :-)
Gigi - It's so easy, even a husband can do it.:-)
The Dish - at least it wasn't raining! That seems to be our MO these days.
Chandra - I thought it was tasty and apparently so did a bunch of people at the picnic. I brought an empty crockpot home!
SugarCain - Thanks for the tip! I'll try that next time I make it.
Ron - Yep, I'm really about the textures too.
YAY summer vacation!!!!
ReplyDeleteAlright let the party start. lol
Mac and cheese sounds yummy :P
Yum, I love mac-n-cheeeeez, and NNG is obsessed with it. I've never made it in a crock pot, but I'm going to try it soon. I'm making something for the first time to serve tomorrow .... Banana Split Pie! (seriously, how bad could I screw THAT up?)
ReplyDeleteah, I am so jealous you are on summer break... I miss those days!
ReplyDeleteIt should be 90 in Seattle today! Enjoy the summer, and remember it is always better than winter!
Wow. You're my hero! I don't think I'd ever bring a first-try dish to an outing. Then again, a 10th-try dish wouldn't work for me either.
ReplyDeleteI want Summer break! Our kids don't finish until 22nd July *pouts*
ReplyDeleteSchool's out! Yay! Now if it would quit storming everyday!
ReplyDeleteI always lived for summer break after I became the mother of school aged kiddies!!
ReplyDeleteThat recipe sounds mighty tasty and I'm sure my family will dig it!
Lexmark DOES have good customer service, but I've had 3 of their printers. After awhile, they just seem to crap out. I will say, that if it's within the warranty period - they'll replace it - no questions asked!
ReplyDeleteCrock pot mac & cheeze....I'll have to check that out!
My tummy is rumbling now, must go find something yummy to eat!
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure there's anything better than some good mac and cheese - okay, maybe a good slawdog.... YUM! Thanks for the recipe!
ReplyDeletemmmm. love me some mac and cheese. I'm gonna have to try it. Can you email me the receipe?
ReplyDeleteLoni - Party is at my place!
ReplyDeleteElle - Sounds good!
Jan - Having my eyes gouged out with bamboo is also better than winter. Anything is! :-)
CrazyMo - I felt fairly comfortable with a 1st time recipe in the crock pot. Seems difficult to really mess anything up in that.
Penelope - July? When do they go back in the Fall?
Mary - I am serious! Here I thought I could work on my free tan, but I might have to resort to the tanning salon again!
Catscratch - Yep, I love it for about half the summer. LOL. Let me know if you do the mac n cheese and if you like it.
Suburbia Steph - I am getting a replacement...so, that kind of made me think "Hmmm, perhaps they're super cheapies." We'll see.
Ginger - You can throw this in the crock pot and have something good in just a few hours!
Momma - How 'bout a slaw dog WITH mac n cheese? Mmmmmm.
The Girl - You should have it in your email box! :-)
Hey, you're good! I ALWAYS bring cubed watermelon and a bowl of cole-slaw. ALWAYS.
ReplyDeleteMy former co-worker was Queen of the crockpot mac and cheese.
ReplyDeleteHer recipe used the following:
8 oz macaroni
4 cups shredded cheddar
12 oz. evaporated milk
1 1/2 cups milk
1 t. salt
1/2 t. pepper
She'd triple the recipe and bring it into the office during the winter. It would be GONE within an hour.
I lurve Mac N Cheese....but I just use the box stuff. I probably would have eaten all 24 servings at that picnic.
ReplyDeleteYummy. I never tried Mac and cheese in the crock pot!! That sounds delicious!!
ReplyDeleteIt's a sad state of affairs when we are surprised by good customer service, isn't it?!
ReplyDeleteThe mac n cheese sounds yummy.
ReplyDeleteI'll bet it was a nice change from all the beans :)
G
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YUM!!! I'm going to have to try that recipe next week when I'm running 9 ways to Sunday and don't have time to cook. Not so sure about Velveeta -- it's too rich for me. It's like eating straight butter. Bleh. But maybe mixing some in with reg. cheese would work. I also had some wicked awesome mac-n-cheese at a teacher luncheon and it contained Gorgonzola cheese. I would never think to use it that way, but it was sooooooo good!
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Lexmark customer service. Most of our printers at school are Lexmark and I've been on the phone with them so many times, they probably remember me by name. They are good about getting things fixed or replaced, depending on the problem.