Queso Taco Pasta Bake

There's a possibility that I used every pot and pan I own to make this dish.  But - it was totally worth it!  The leftovers are in the fridge right now, and I can't wait to dig in.  This recipe makes a TON of food.  Half this recipe, and you'll have plenty for a family of four.

4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 cups reduced sodium chicken broth
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup prepared mild salsa
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 cup finely chopped onions
1 tablespoons minced garlic
1 pound lean ground beef
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
One 10 ounce can Rotel tomatoes, mild
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
3/4 pound small pasta of your choice
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. and lightly spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.
Place butter into a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir to melt. Whisk in flour, salt and pepper for about 30 seconds until bubbly. Slowly whisk in chicken broth until smooth. Increase heat to high while whisking until thickened. Takes 3-5 minutes. Stir in cheese and salsa, turn off heat and set aside.
Place 2 tablespoons olive oil in medium skillet over medium heat. Saute onions until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for an additional minute. Add ground beef, salt and pepper, cooking until browned. Drain fat if necessary. Add tomatoes, cumin and lime juice, stir to combine.
Cook pasta according to package directions, drain and run under cold water.
Transfer beef, noodles and queso to a large pot or dutch oven over medium low heat. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper to your liking. Transfer to prepared baking dish and top with shredded cheese. Bake for 25-30 minutes until cheese is melted. Serve warm. 

Original source: www.picky-palate.com

Trouble

"Mommy, he's just sooooo cute!"

"Mama, I had to blow ma nose!"  Note defendant in the
upper left corner of picture.

5-Minute Homemade Macaroni and Cheese

I'm not sure this could be any easier.  Sydney loved it, and it was delicious.  I think I'd like to try it next time around with some sort of "fancy" cheese or mix in some broccoli.

1/2 pound cooked pasta of choice (we used small shells)
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup whole milk
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Place pasta, cheese, milk, salt and pepper into a microwave safe bowl. Stir to mix. Cover lightly with plastic wrap and microwave for 3 minutes. Stir and microwave for an additional 2 minutes. Stir until creamy and smooth. Serve immediately.
Makes 4 servings

Original recipe: www.picky-palate.com

Derby Milestone

A couple weeks back, I made the trip to Wildwood, NJ, to participate in the Colossal Coastal Roller Expo (CCRE).  CCRE is a weekend of roller derby workshops, games, fun, sun, and various social events.  The expo culminates in a tournament held at the Wildwood Convention Center.  Initially, I decided not to go to CCRE because I didn't want to be away from Tom and the kids for another entire weekend.  However, a bunch of my teammates decided to go to New Jersey for the day just to participate in the tournament, and I decided to join them.  We left at 9:30 am on Saturday and returned at 3:30 am on Sunday morning.  It was a long day, but well worth it.  This event counted as my first tournament playing with and against derby players outside my own league.  I ended up playing jammer for the entire bout, which was a lot of fun.  The experience definitely improved my confidence and pushed me to face some uneasiness I've had about skating with folks I don't know.  I'm already really looking forward to my next opportunity to skate in a similar event!

The First Day of School!

September means the beginning of a new school year.  And - some serious planning on the part of school officials and mommy made it possible for Cole to go to school this year!  Yippee!  His allergies are definitely a challenge, but the school is really working with us to make a go of it.  Beyond the allergy concerns, Cole did a great job on his first day of school.  Sydney is a pro and didn't even look back at me sobbing in the corner.  When I came back to pick them up, they were both smiling and both asked to go back again.  So far, so good!

This was actually taken before their
orientation last week.  Clowns!

Ready for his first day of preschool.

Ready for her first day of college... I mean first day
of the last year of preschool.

Mommy = sobbing

Easy!  Next - teach me how to drive.

Hooray!  I made it through snack time!

Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum

We visited the Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum recently.  We are so blessed to live so close to so many museums, and we don't take advantage of the opportunity to visit as much as we should.  The kids had a great time running around and looking at all the airplanes, helicopters, and the space shuttle!  The adults had a great time too.  Here are some pics:

 

So much to look at!

Really... they had fun.

Checking things out with Grandma.

AWESOME!

We Love Coconut Milk!

 

Mmm!

Coconut milk has really opened up a world of possibilities for Cole.  His previous allergist had asked us to avoid it  because of its close ties to tree nuts; however, the folks at JHU suggested we give it a try.  Anyway, we did, and Cole has no problems with it.  In fact, he's been enjoying coconut milk yogurt for a while now.  So - back in April, I decided to give coconut milk ice cream a try.  It took a while, but he finally decided to like that too.  And then the other day at the store, I saw coconut milk ice cream sandwiches.  WOW!  Want to see a happy boy?  Give Cole a coconut milk ice cream sandwich!

Getting Every Last Bit!